The University offers Home and EU undergraduate degree students who enrolled in the academic years 2017/18 to 2021/22 academic year £150 credit to spend, giving you the best possible start to life at BCU.

The scheme is open to all Home and EU undergraduate degree students who enrolled between 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years and can be spent on a wide range of items from an online shop stocking books, clothes, art supplies, medical/nursing equipment, university branded clothing and more.

FAQs 

Q. How do I know if I am eligible?

A. The credit will be allocated to students who meet any one of the criteria below:

• First year Home/EU students who enrolled on undergraduate degree programmes (£9,250 fee payers only) between 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years
• First year Home/EU students on DipHE Operating Department Practice who enrolled between 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years
• Home/EU students who progressed from a foundation year to year one between 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years
• International students who started a BCU undergraduate degree between 2017/18 and 2021/22 academic years after completing a BCUIC course

Students on Apprenticeship courses are not eligible for this particular scheme.

Q. How do I get the £150?

A. Please read the above eligibility checks first.  If you meet these criteria check your university email. Find the email from BCU Aspire and follow the instructions. This will enable you to log on to https://bcu.jsgroup.co.uk/ so that you can start spending.

Q. Where can I spend it?

A. The £150 will come in the form of credit for use in the BCU Aspire Engagement Portal.

Q. Do I have to spend the money all at once?

A. No, but credit must be used before you leave the University.

Q. Do I have to pay this back when I leave or if I withdraw from studies?

A. No. But only enrolled students are eligible so if you withdraw from your programme the account will be closed and the unspent credit will no longer be available to you. In the event of interruption to your studies, any unspent credit will be suspended until a time when your registration is reactivated, provided you continue to meet the eligibility criteria.

Q. What if I want to buy something that is worth more than £150?

A. You can use your funds to pay part of the cost and top up the difference with your own money.

Q. How can I find out which books or materials I need?

A. Your programme leader will be in touch to let you know what books and/or materials you might need.

Q. Can I transfer my £150 to a friend/relative?

A. No. This funding is not transferable to another individual.

Q. I have joined a four-year integrated Masters programme at BCU in the 2020/21 or 2021/22 academic year, am I eligible?

A. Yes, as long as you are a Home or EU student as outlined above.

Q. I'm doing part of my degree at Birmingham City University but I'm usually based at a partner college or another university, am I eligible?

A. Only students enrolling onto an undergraduate degree programme delivered at a Birmingham City University campus are eligible for the £150 credit.

Q. Who can I ask if I have questions?

A. If you have any questions please email: ku/oc/eripsaucb//ecivres/remotsuc.

Terms and Conditions

All awards credited to a 'BCU Aspire account' will be treated as follows:

a. Where there are unspent funds at the end of the first year of study, these will be rolled over for years 2 and 3 of study where full re-registration for subsequent years is made.

b. In the event of interruption, any unspent credit will be suspended until a time when the students' registration is reactivated, provided they continue to meet the eligibility criteria. If the scheme is no longer in existence upon the student's return, the unspent credit will no longer be available.

c. In the event of Withdrawal either by the student or the University, the account will be closed. All unspent credit will no longer be available.

d. Where a student completes a programme, any unspent credit will be available until the date of leaving the programme, after which time it will be removed and will no longer be available. Credit is non-transferable to further study.

e. In the event of an overpayment being made, the University will withdraw the overpayment but the account will remain open and any other unspent funds will remain accessible to the student.

f. In the event of Misuse where any student is found to have attempted any sort of fraudulent activity with regards to the 'BCU Aspire account', the University reserves the right to withdraw unspent credit and close the account.

To be eligible for the 'BCU Aspire account', students must be either:

a. A full-time or part-time Home or EU students who started an undergraduate degree programme at Level 3 or Level 4 in the academic years 2020/21 or 2021/22 and paying the applicable maximum undergraduate fee (£9,250 in 2021/22). (Students on Apprenticeship courses are not eligible for this particular scheme.)

or

b. Full-time Home or EU students who started DipHe Operating Department Practice in the 2020/21 or 2021/22 academic year

or

c. Home or EU students who progressed from a foundation year to year one in the 2020/21 or 2021/22 academic year

or

d. International students who started a BCU undergraduate degree in the 2020/21 or 2021/22 academic year after completing a BCUIC course

Students can only activate their 'BCU Aspire account' and participate in the scheme once they have FULLY completed enrolment. This includes all associated holds related to enrolment including qualifications, DBS and occupational health checks being removed from the student's account.