This information is for Undergraduate UK/Home students applying to study at Northumbria University in September 2027.

This prestigious scholarship will award three Engineering and Environment students studying on one of the below programmes £3,500 per year, throughout their Undergraduate studies, to a total of £10,500. The money can be used to enhance the overall university learning experience.

Eligibility Criteria

Students who meet at least one of the following characteristics will be considered;

You live in a neighbourhood with a low progression rate to Higher Education. Please use your main home address and not your term time address and use the Postcode Checker* to check your neighbourhood progression rate
You are from a Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (BAME) background
You have declared a physical and/or mental health condition, long-term illness, or learning difference on your UCAS form**

*If your POLAR4 young participation quintile is identified as 1 or 2, you will be eligible to apply OR; After searching your postcode, click view detailed results and if your TUNDRA MSOA quintile is identified as 1 or 2, you will be eligible to apply (This only applies to applicants living in England)

**UCAS application data will be used to verify submitted information

APPLY NOW. Applications close at 16:00 on Tuesday 31 August 2027.

Terms and Conditions

To be eligible for a Cobham-Ultra Scholarship you must also:

Be a UK/Home applicant - This includes students domiciled in Jersey, Guernsey, The Channel Islands, Ireland and Isle of Man
Apply to study on one of the above Full-Time eligible programmes at the Newcastle Upon Tyne campus, starting in September 2027
If you apply for the scholarship in the normal UCAS cycle, you must go firm by 30 June 2027
Meet all individual entry requirements
Be a self-funded student (i.e. not sponsored by an employer)
Apply for one or more elements of the Government Student Finance package (for example, Tuition Fee loan, Maintenance loan)
Register with Student Finance England (SFE), Student Finance Wales (SFW) or Student Finance Northern Ireland (SFNI)
As a Scottish student, register with Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and apply to be means-tested for maintenance funding, in order that SASS can send your data to Student Finance England
Agree to share consent via your Student Finance Provider with Northumbria University

Important Information

Students selected for a Cobham-Ultra Scholarship will not be eligible for any other Undergraduate scholarships
If you apply and are successful for more than one scholarship, you will automatically receive the highest value scholarship
If you apply and are successful for more than one scholarship of the same value, you will be asked to select your preferred scholarship
The Cobham-Ultra UK Scholarship is awarded as a bank transfer
Payments will be made as 25% of total in November 2027, 25% of total in February 2028 and 50% of total in May 2028
The award is provided on an annual basis, on the condition the successful students progress to the next year of study
No award will be made in placement year, or should you resit a year
The successful students will be required to send a thank you letter and progress updates to the donor
If you do not provide a thank you letter and progress updates to the donor, the scholarship may be withdrawn
If you are progressing from a Extended Degree (Foundation Year) studied at Northumbria or another institution, you are eligible for the Cobham-Ultra UK Scholarship
If you defer your place at Northumbria University before the scholarship has been paid, the scholarship offer will be withdrawn
If you decide to leave your course after the scholarship payment has been made, the University will not make efforts to reclaim the amount
If you are required to resit your first year, the scholarship will not be paid again
The University's decision is final and cannot be challenged; there is no right of appeal

Selection Process

There is a competitive selection process for this scholarship scheme. Applicants need to apply via online written application. In no more than 3000 characters (500 words) - 'How will this Award support your aspirations to succeed in Higher Education?' - applications will be considered on the strength of response against a marking criteria
Applications close at 16:00 on Tuesday 31 August 2027
We will let you know the outcome of your application by the end of September 2027.

Read more about Cobham-Ultra UK

Cobham Group Limited is a group of aerospace, defence, and technology businesses, which employs 10,000 people, has extensive contracts with the British military and is seen as a world leader in air-to-air refuelling technology. The firm, based in Dorset, also makes electronic warfare systems and communications for military vehicles.

Since 2020, Cobham has further developed its Corporate Social Responsibility programme, with the aim of replenishing the STEM talent pipeline in the UK to ensure that graduates see Cobham as an employer of choice. Cobham are keen to ensure that higher education is accessible to all talented students and a passionate supporter of Northumbria’s “Higher Education without Barriers” fundraising campaign.

Last updated: 14/10/2026