About the scholarship  

The Raheem Sterling Foundation envisions a world where young people will always have the support they need in the pursuit of improving their opportunities, future careers and quality of life. 

Through his charitable organisation, Raheem Sterling is dedicated to helping those from disadvantaged backgrounds break down barriers to success, find their voice, and realise their true potential in the world. 

Manchester is a place that holds special meaning for Raheem, and we’re delighted to be supporting the Foundation in its efforts to increase social mobility and remove obstacles for talented young people from the Greater Manchester region. 

The Foundation will fund seven students on undergraduate degree courses at The University of Manchester over the next three years. 

The scholarship has an application and selection process. 

If you’re successful in securing a scholarship, you’ll need to share an update on your progress with the Raheem Sterling Foundation each year.

The award

For 2024 entry, the scholarship is available to students studying three or four year degrees.

Successful applicants of the award will:

• have your tuition fees for paid for all three or four years of your undergraduate study;
• receive an annual bursary of £8000 for all three or four years of your undergraduate study. Awards will be paid in instalments from Semester 1 for the 2024/25 academic year if you’ve met the terms of your course offer and completed registration with the University.   

Who can apply? 

You'll need to meet the following essential criteria to be eligible for this scholarship – we may use the information provided on your UCAS form to help check these details.  

1. Identify as belonging to one of the following ethnic groups:  

• Black or Black British – Caribbean 
• Black or Black British – African 
• Mixed – White and Black Caribbean 
• Mixed – White and Black African 
• Other Black background   

2. Have a home postcode within Greater Manchester. 

3. Have firmly accepted an offer of a place with The University of Manchester on a three-year or four year full-time degree starting in the 2024/25 academic year by the UCAS acceptance deadline (see UCAS guidance on replying to offers). If you have made a UCAS application to the University but are still waiting for confirmation of an offer, you can also still apply; however, we will remove you from the scholarship application and selection process if you do not eventually receive a course offer for 2024 entry. 

4. Have been assessed for fee status as a UK student (see UCAS student finance eligibility information). 

5. Made an application to Student Finance England (SFE) for income-assessed UK government financial support for higher education. You’ll need to give consent for SFE to share this information with the University as we’ll use this to determine eligibility too. 

Preferred candidates will also meet one or more of the following criteria:  

• Have a household income of £35,000 per annum or less. 
• Be care-experienced. 
• Be an estranged student. 
• Have a contextual offer from the University.  

We’ll use information from your UCAS and Student Finance England applications, and our own applicant records to check whether you meet any of the above priority criteria. 

Selection process

1. We’ll create a shortlist of applicants based on application form answers. 
2. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview at The University of Manchester campus in mid to late June. The interview provides a chance to tell us more about yourself and why you would benefit from receiving this scholarship. The interview will take around 40 minutes. 
3. A small selection panel will make a final decision on who’ll be awarded the scholarship based on the application form and the interview.  

Applicant enquiries should be sent to rsfsadmin@manchester.ac.uk.