The Witty Entrepreneurial Scholarship has established an innovative programme of undergraduate scholarships for promising student entrepreneurs from lower-income backgrounds.
The scholarship is a generous gift from Sir Andrew Witty, former Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, and his family. Sir Andrew graduated from the University of Nottingham in 1985 with a joint Honours BA in Economics and was the CEO of GlaxoSmithKline from 2008.
The programme has been supporting aspiring entrepreneurs at the University of Nottingham since 2017.
What does the scholarship include?
The Witty Scholarship offers financial support and entrepreneurial skills development for undergraduate students. Discovering innovative ideas, finding new ways of working, setting up a business, creating a distinctive career path or supporting social enterprises, are just some of the ways previous Witty Scholars have benefitted from the programme. This programme is based in the Ingenuity Lab on Jubilee Campus.
Witty Scholars can access*:
- a £750 cost of living allowance per academic year
- up to £1,500 towards an internship or business start-up costs
- an ‘Advantage’ Fund to support extra-curricular costs of up to £300 per year
- specific Witty Scholar membership to the Ingenuity Lab
- one-to-one mentoring support for business or career development
- resources and seminars to assist with growing your own business and developing your employability skills
*advancement is subject to regular engagement with the programme.
Are you eligible?
Eligibility criteria explained
For this scheme you must meet the following criteria:
- Be able to demonstrate an interest and commitment to an entrepreneurial career or starting your own business
- Commit to attending regular mentoring meetings; sign up to entrepreneurship modules; attend seminars and events to support entrepreneurial education and employability
- Have a 2025/26 Household Income of between £0-35,000, as assessed by Student Finance
- Be enrolled with at least two full years left of an undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham (UK Campus)
- Have Home funding status
More information, including definitions and explanations of the criteria, can be found in the application guidance. You are advised to read these before completing an application.
How will the scholarship be paid?
Upon acceptance to the scheme, a Core Living Costs award will be paid directly to your bank account during term 2 and following your initial engagement with the programme. More details of payment arrangements will be confirmed to you at this time.
Further awards and/or payments will be subject to your individual circumstances and on satisfactory progression to the next year of the scheme.
How to apply
Applications for September 2026 entry close on Monday 11 May 2026.
Application support sessions
We are holding two support sessions where you can find out more about the scholarships and how to apply. These are both on Microsoft Teams.
- Thursday 26 March, 12 noon - join the meeting
- Monday 27 April, 1pm - join the meeting
More funding options
Scholarships and bursaries
Entrepreneurship Fund
To support students from disadvantaged backgrounds to unlock their entrepreneurial spirit
Scholarships and bursaries
Core Bursary
For students with a household income between £0-£35,000 as assessed by student finance
Scholarships and bursaries
Nottingham Potential Bursary
For UK students with personal circumstances or backgrounds that may have impacted academic potential
Scholarships and bursaries
Potential scholarships
To encourage potential in students from lower-income backgrounds or who have faced significant difficulties
Scholarships and bursaries
Subject specific bursaries and scholarships
A range of competitive scholarships based on the subject you're studying to help you excel in your area of interest
