iQ launches 250 Thrive Scholarships to widen access to university living and support social mobility

iQ Student Accommodation (iQ) has announced the launch of the iQ Thrive Scholarships, a new initiative that will provide 250 students across the UK with subsidised accommodation for the 2026/27 academic year. 

Our iQ Thrive Scholarships aim to ease financial pressures for socioeconomically disadvantaged students, unlocking the opportunities that university living can have on the student experience. Worth thousands of pounds per student across iQ's UK portfolio, these bursaries will support greater access to the communities, experiences, connections that can play an important role in a student’s university experience.

The programme builds on the success of our existing social mobility initiative, the iQ Thrive Academy, now entering its fourth year. Each academic year, the Academy supports 80 students from less advantaged backgrounds by providing enrolment to upReach's employability programme, alongside accommodation bursaries, mentoring, internships and networking opportunities designed to help students secure top graduate jobs. Since the Academy launched, it has provided almost £800,000 worth of accommodation and support, helping participants to build their confidence, develop valuable skills and expand their future opportunities.

Matt Merrick, CEO of iQ, said:

"Talent and potential are spread evenly across society, but opportunity is not.

We know that financial pressures can limit the choices available to some students and, in a number of cases, restrict access to the wider university experience. Through our iQ Thrive Scholarships, we're helping to remove some of those barriers and support students from lower-income backgrounds to access the opportunities that university life can create.  

We believe social mobility is a shared responsibility. The scholarships are one way we can play our part in helping more young people build the skills, confidence, networks and experiences that can shape their future."

Applications for the iQ Thrive Scholarships will be independently assessed by Blackbullion, the student financial wellbeing platform, to ensure support is allocated fairly and reaches students who meet the programme's eligibility criteria. Successful applicants will then receive subsidised accommodation for the upcoming 2026/27 academic year.

Vivi Friedgut, Founder & CEO of Blackbullion, said:

"Where a student lives shapes their university experience - their wellbeing, their sense of belonging and the lifelong friends they make. At Blackbullion, we know that financial stress and housing instability are two sides of the same coin, so we are so delighted to be working with iQ Student Accommodation. Our collaboration brings together safe, supported living with the financial tools students need to thrive. By offering subsidised accommodation iQ Student Accommodation are ensuring that where you come from no longer determines where you live - or how far you go, and we are proud to support them.”

The iQ Thrive Scholarships form just one part of iQ's wider commitment to supporting student success and positively shaping their future. Find out more about our initiatives here.

Further information on eligibility criteria and application dates can be found here on the iQ Thrive Scholarships webpage.