Aziz Foundation Scholarship
We are delighted to be partnering with the Aziz Foundation to offer postgraduate scholarships to support British Muslims studying at York.
The Aziz Foundation Scholarships Programme offers 100% tuition-fee Masters scholarships to support British Muslims to study at UK universities. The scholarships are aimed at those who wish to advance in their careers, and bring positive change to their communities and beyond.
We invite applications from people who are dedicated to:
- Effective advocacy and enhancing public perception – facilitating better representation and contribution of Muslims to civil society to combat Islamophobia, and positively transform perceptions of British Muslims.
- Community service and social development – raising the aspirations and standards within British Muslim communities.
The aim is to support emerging leaders who have a high level of commitment to the community, as well as the aspirations to lead and inspire in their respective field.
Subject areas
Scholarships will only be awarded to British Muslims with relevant experience and committed to progression in the following areas:
- Arts & Culture – Creatives who can influence public discourses, especially around Muslims and Islam, through a variety of mediums.
- Law – Candidates who hold high aspirations to excel in the legal profession, and especially those who wish to become judges (excluding conversion courses).
- Media & Journalism – Candidates who wish to champion diversity in the media to ensure fairer and more accurate reporting.
- Policy – Candidates with a passion for influencing public policy (excluding Health Policy) in the UK, to ensure that it is equitable and responsive to the needs of British Muslim communities.
- Sports – Candidates who are enthusiastic about sporting excellence and can make key contributions, through administration and management, to the industry.
- Sustainability/Environment – Candidates who wish to be at the forefront of the fight to save our planet and ensure a safer future for generations to come.
- Technology – Disrupters and innovators who use tech to offer novel and transformational solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.
- Philanthropy and grant making – For those who want to work in the third sector, for Trusts and Foundations, in order to direct grant making and philanthropic efforts.
Applications will not be accepted for science, health policy or mathematics courses.
Open to UK (home) students only.
Applicants should meet all the following requirements:
- Be eligible for home fee status (check your fee status).
- Be active within a Muslim community and demonstrate intimate knowledge of issues affecting British Muslim communities.
- Demonstrate long-term commitment to community/societal development within Britain.
- Show how the course will increase their effectiveness in one of the following areas relating to British Muslims:
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- Effective advocacy and enhance public perception – facilitating better representation and contribution of Muslims to civil society to combat Islamophobia and positively transform perceptions of British Muslims.
- Community service and social development – raising the aspirations and standards within British Muslim communities.
Candidates are also expected to have:
- excellent understanding of their chosen industry and how to progress within it, with relevant, prior experience and/or achievements in the field
- knowledge of how the course will enable them to generate social impact.
Means testing and Zakat eligibility
The Aziz Foundation prioritises scholarships for candidates who can demonstrate that they cannot afford all or part of the tuition fees for their proposed Masters course. These scholarships are being given as Zakat. Therefore, applicants will have to self-assess to determine their Zakat eligibility (please use the Islamic Relief and/or NZF Zakat calculator(s) as an indicator; if you do not owe any Zakat, you will be eligible).
You will have to demonstrate that you would not be able to self-fund your course. The Foundation will apply the following test, using information you supply, social indicators and available data, to determine your financial means:
- A list of the secondary school(s) you attended, which acts as an important social indicator
- The amount of your student debt
- Information relating to your financial circumstances on the application form, including caring responsibilities, dependents and existing commitments
- Whether you are the first in your family to enter Higher Education
- We'll utilise existing government data that provides information on general trends on access to Higher Education and participation rates by postcode, indicating rates of social mobility and deprivation
The assessment will include some or all of the means testing criteria above, variously weighted, and will contribute to the panel’s final decision on the candidate.
Application deadline: Friday 4 April 2025, 12pm BST
Applications are submitted online.
The application form includes questions about previous education, work experience, financial means, a statement of no more than 1,000 words about how you meet the Foundation’s criteria, and the names of two referees.
If your application is shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an interview. The interview will be 30-45 minutes, exploring questions around:
- challenges facing British Muslims
- vision and hopes for change
- personal qualities needed to succeed
- financial barriers faced.
Key dates
The assessment and awards process will be carried out over two cycles in 2025:
- Cycle 1 applications are open from 11am on 13 January 2025 to 12 noon on 4 April 2025 (interview dates: Feb-April; award dates: mid-May)
- Cycle 2 applications are open from 11am on 8 April 2025 to 12 noon on 20 June 2025 (interview dates: April-July; award dates: late July)
The earliest start for courses we can consider is June 2025. If your course starts between June and August 2025, you must apply during cycle 1. Otherwise, we will not be able to consider your application. For courses starting from September 2025 or January 2026, you may apply in either cycle.
You may apply only once in any given year (either in cycle 1 or cycle 2, but not both).
Support
To apply or to learn more, go to the Aziz Foundation website or email scholarships@azizfoundation.org.uk.
If successful, it is a mandatory requirement as a condition of your award that you undertake at least one of the following:
- Participate in widening-participation schemes at your host institution
- Volunteer with a community or civil society organisation (the Foundation can help facilitate this)
- Act as a mentor, post graduation, through the Foundation or university’s mentoring scheme
Contact us
If you have questions relating to any of our funding opportunities, please see the contact details on the specific scholarship or bursary page.