Social Housing Scholarships Programme

Who can apply for the scholarship?

You can apply if you:

• live in social housing in England. This means you live in a property rented from a housing association or local council. This could be you or the lead tenant, such as a parent
• are applying for an undergraduate degree that starts in the academic year 2027/28. Postgraduate or college courses are ineligible
• have, or expect to have, a confirmed university place
• are studying for a degree that the programme and housing sector can meaningfully support
• are starting a degree for the first time. This doesn’t cover situations where you have started a degree, put it on hold, or deferred it, and intend to return.

Most subjects are eligible. However, some courses, such as medical degrees and other highly specialised professional training programmes that aren’t linked to housing, homes, communities or related services, aren't eligible. This is because we’re unable to provide relevant sector-based support alongside them. If you’re unsure whether your course qualifies, we encourage you to contact us before applying.

Do I need to live in a specific housing association?

No. The scholarship is open to social housing residents across England. Applicants who live in partner housing associations may be prioritised, but you can still apply if your landlord is not currently a partner.

Is there an age limit?

There is no formal age limit. However, you’ll be prioritised if you’re starting your first undergraduate degree, particularly if you’re progressing directly from sixth form or equivalent study.

Can I apply if I already receive other funding?

Yes. You can apply alongside other funding, such as student loans, bursaries or grants.

Who is the scholarship especially keen to support?

You don’t need to meet these criteria to apply, but you may be given additional consideration if you are:

• interested in careers linked to housing or communities
• the first in your family to attend university
• from a lower-income household.

Student finance entitlement is collected to help us understand the programme’s reach and impact. It is not used to exclude applicants.

Where do I apply?

Applications for the 2027 programme are not yet open. You can register your interest now by completing the Jobs and Training form and selecting ‘Scholarships’.

Register your interest

Can I start my application and finish it later?

When applications open, you’ll be able to:

• start your application and return to it later
• pause and resume your application at any time before the closing date
• receive reminder emails if you start but do not submit your application before the closing date.

What happens once I submit my application?

Once you submit your application:

• you’ll receive a confirmation email
• your application will move into the assessment stage.

We are interested in you as a person, not just your academic grades. Applications are assessed based on:

• your story, motivation and future goals
• your potential and commitment to succeed
• how your ambitions align with the aims and impact of the programme
• your interest in making the most of the opportunities available.

There are no minimum grade requirements beyond those set by your university. We’ll look at your application as a whole, including your potential and how the programme could support your future goals.

How will I know if I am being considered?

Our scholarship partner, Blackbullion, will review all eligible applications and decide which applicants to invite to an online interview.

We'll email you at the end of July if you’ve been invited to an interview. Interviews will take place in August.

Is there support for shortlisted applicants?

If you’re a Clarion resident and you are shortlisted, you’ll be offered tailored support through webinars, workshops and optional one-to-one sessions delivered by the Clarion Futures Jobs and Training team.

This includes a Resilience Workshop to help you manage stress and stay motivated, an Interview Skills Workshop to build your confidence and prepare for the final interview, and a bookable one-to-one clinic offering personalised guidance from an Employment Support Officer.

What happens if I am NOT shortlisted?

We’ll contact you by email to let you know the outcome of your application.

If you are not shortlisted:

• you will be notified in July 2027
• your application will be closed within the system
• you will receive guidance and tips to help strengthen future applications.

Please note that due to the volume of applications, individual feedback may not be available.

While you may not have been selected for the scholarship, there may still be other ways Clarion Futures can support you. Our Jobs and Training team can help you explore other opportunities, including support with employment, skills and training.

For more information, visit our Jobs and Training page.

What happens if I’m invited to interview?

If you’re shortlisted, you’ll:

• attend an interview with the programme team
• be asked about your motivation, potential and how your ambitions align with the scholarship
• receive a follow-up email confirming whether you’ve been successful, along with any relevant feedback from the interview.

How and when will successful applicants be notified?

If you complete an interview and confirm your university place, you’ll receive an email confirming the final decision.

Successful applicants will be formally notified by email in late August and will receive information about what happens next.

 

What support is available if I’m unsuccessful?

If you’re not selected for a scholarship, there may still be other ways Clarion Futures can support you.

Our Jobs and Training team can help you explore other opportunities, including employment, skills and training support.

For more information, visit our Jobs and Training page.

What does taking part in the programme involve?

If awarded a scholarship, you will be expected to:

• take part in mentoring and development activities
• engage with work experience, events and other opportunities offered through the programme
• contribute your experiences through agreed communications activities, such as providing quotes
• Share your feedback to help us understand your experience of the programme’s impact and improve it for future scholars.

Taking an active part will help you make the most of the programme, build your skills and network, and help shape the experience for future scholars.

Will I be asked to share my experience as a Social Housing Scholar?

Yes. Celebrating our scholars and sharing their experiences is an important part of the programme.

Throughout your time as a Social Housing Scholar, we’ll follow your progress and celebrate key milestones along the way. You’ll be asked to take part in communications activities such as providing quotes, taking part in photoshoots, recording videos, or being interviewed for our communications channels.

This gives you an opportunity to share your story, celebrate your achievements and experiences, and inspire other residents who are thinking about university or their future career.

You’ll be asked to complete a media consent form, so you understand how your story, images, and content may be used.

What can I use the £6,000 scholarship for?

The scholarship is designed to give you flexible financial support while you’re at university. It can be used towards a range of costs, including living expenses, study materials and other important costs while studying.

How will I receive my scholarship payments?

Once your scholarship has been formally confirmed, we’ll set up your payment instalment plan.

Payments are made through Blackbullion and depend on your continued engagement with the programme. This includes staying in regular contact and taking part in agreed activities and events.

Scholarship payments are usually made at the start of each term, with monthly payments beginning in early October once we’ve confirmed you’re registered at university. The first payment is usually larger to help cover the extra costs of starting university.

You’ll receive an email confirming your full payment schedule, including all instalment dates, once this has been set up.

What happens in Years 2 and 3?

To continue receiving the scholarship, you’ll need to confirm that you've successfully moved on to the next year of your course.

Ongoing funding also depends on your continued commitment to the programme. We encourage you to stay actively involved throughout the year so you can make the most of the support, experiences and connections available to you.