Deadline
2025-08-18
Value of Scholarship
Full Scholarship, £10,000 Living Stipends & Research Costs
£10,000
£10,000
Country Tenable
United Kingdom
Renewable
No
Keele University SURF Scholarship 2025 (Fully Funded) – Now Open for Applications
The Leverhulme Trust, in partnership with Keele University, is now accepting applications for the Sustainable Rural Futures (SURF) Scholarship—a fully funded program designed for exceptional candidates from low-income or Black heritage backgrounds to pursue postgraduate studies in the UK.
This prestigious 5-year scholarship supports both Master’s and PhD studies, offering a unique opportunity to join a groundbreaking research initiative focused on tackling contemporary rural challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.
About the SURF Programme
The Sustainable Rural Futures (SURF) programme aims to develop a new generation of rural researchers equipped to address the pressing social, economic, and environmental challenges facing rural communities today.
Eligibility Criteria for SURF Scholarship 2025
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be UK-domiciled (living in the UK)
- Have achieved or be expecting a minimum of a 2:1 honours degree
- Belong to at least one of the following categories:
- Black heritage: Black African, Black Caribbean, Black Other, Mixed White and Black Caribbean, Mixed White and Black African, or Other Mixed backgrounds involving Black heritage
- Low-income background: Proven by receipt of a full maintenance loan or Special Support Loan during undergraduate studies
Scholarship Benefits
The Keele University SURF Scholarship is fully funded and includes:
- Full tuition for a one-year Master’s and four-year PhD (total 5 years)
- Stipend at the UKRI rate for living expenses throughout the program
- A £10,000 research allowance for training and fieldwork
- Additional support for cohort-building activities and professional development
Required Documents
Applicants will need to prepare and submit:
- Completed SURF Masters Plus Application Form (available on the SURF website)
- CV
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- Passport copy
- English language certificate (if required)
- Contact information for two academic referees
How to Apply (Step by Step)
- Visit the official SURF application page: https://www.keele.ac.uk/surf/apply/
- Download and complete the Masters Plus application form
- Submit all required documents through Keele’s online application portal
- You may propose your own PhD research idea or respond to a listed project
- For questions or guidance, contact: surf@keele.ac.uk
- Applications are welcome from any relevant academic background, with entry to the programme beginning in October 2025.
Scholarships are not only for the smart students. Anyone can get scholarships
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