Application Deadline: 29 May 2026 (5pm BST)
The Wittenberg Scholarship 2026 offers an important opportunity for young people from asylum-seeking backgrounds in the UK who want to pursue higher education in engineering. At a time when many students face financial and legal barriers to university study, this scholarship aims to provide meaningful support toward building a future through education.
Funded through the Adi and Isca Wittenberg Scholarship programme, the award is dedicated to students pursuing their first undergraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification in engineering. The initiative continues the legacy of Adi and Isca Wittenberg, both refugees who overcame displacement and hardship to pursue education and meaningful careers.
For many students who do not qualify for UK Student Finance because of their immigration status, accessing university education can be extremely difficult. This scholarship helps reduce that burden by covering home tuition fees and other study-related costs depending on the student’s circumstances and university location.
Successful candidates will also receive support from the Trust in requesting home fee status from their chosen university. Since tuition arrangements can vary across institutions, the final scholarship award will depend on successfully receiving a home tuition fee offer.
Applicants must currently live in the United Kingdom and must either be applying for an undergraduate course through UCAS or already studying at a UK university. Only students pursuing engineering-related undergraduate degrees are eligible for this year’s intake.
The scholarship is specifically intended for individuals from asylum-seeking backgrounds, including those with temporary immigration statuses such as Limited Leave to Remain, Calais Leave, Discretionary Leave to Remain, Section 67 leave, or UASC leave, where access to UK Student Finance is unavailable.
Applicants must also be under the age of 30 when their course begins.
One meaningful aspect of this scholarship is the story behind it. Adi and Isca Wittenberg both fled Nazi Germany as teenagers and later rebuilt their lives through education. Despite financial struggles and displacement, they remained deeply committed to learning and helping others access academic opportunities. Their legacy continues through this scholarship, especially for students facing similar barriers today.
The organizers encourage applicants to carefully complete their forms rather than rushing submissions, noting that there is no advantage to applying early.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be currently living in the UK
- Have applied for an undergraduate course at a UK university through UCAS, or already be studying one
- Be pursuing an undergraduate degree in engineering
- Be under 30 years old when the course starts
- Have an asylum-seeking background or temporary immigration status without access to UK Student Finance
You may also like: Brittan Scholarship 2026 for Refugee Master’s Students
Benefits
Successful applicants will receive:
- Support for home tuition fees
- Funding for associated study costs
- Assistance requesting home fee status from universities
- Access to undergraduate engineering education in the UK
Application
Applications must be submitted using the official online application form. Students who want additional preparation time may first draft their responses using the downloadable Word version before completing the online submission.
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in July 2026.
Applicants experiencing issues with the form are advised to clear their browser cache or use incognito mode before trying again.
For more details, visit Wittenberg Scholarship.
