David Bucknall Scholarship
Have you applied for, or are considering applying for, a property or construction degree with us to start September 2021? This is your chance to seize a life-changing opportunity.
Applications are now open
Apply for the David Bucknall Scholarship today and you could benefit from £11,500 towards the cost of studying for a BSc/BEng in a property or construction-related course at the School of Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University.
As well as receiving £11,500, you’ll also have the chance to get work experience, placements and guidance from Rider Levett Bucknall, one of the leading property and construction practices in the world.
What’s on offer?
If successful, you will receive the following financial and professional assistance:
A reduction in your tuition fees from Birmingham City University worth £3,500 over three years.
A cash maintenance grant from the Scholarship Fund to help with your living costs worth £8,000 over three years.
Guaranteed work experience, placements and guidance from Rider Levett Bucknall.
The award is worth a total of £11,500 over the course of three years’ study.
Who can apply?
The award is available to applicants for our property and construction courses who live in the Birmingham area.
You must be planning to study one of the following BSc/BEng degree courses at Birmingham City University starting in September 2021:
- Architectural Technology
- Building Surveying
- Quantity Surveying
- Construction Management
- Real Estate
- Property Development and Planning

Who was David Bucknall?
David Bucknall OBE FRICS was one of Birmingham’s best known businessmen. Born in Wolverhampton, he qualified as a quantity surveyor in 1961 and went on to become a leading figure in the profession, before founding global property and construction practice Rider Levett Bucknall.
He project managed the construction of Birmingham's Symphony Hall, International Convention Centre and National Indoor Arena and set up the Birmingham Community Foundation charity which distributes grants to local grass roots projects.
David was well known for helping young people achieve their potential, which is why this Scholarship has been set up in his memory.
What do I have to do?
Here's one we filmed earlier
If you need some inspiration for your video, see this example from one of RLB's current graduates.
Simply produce a short video (one to three minutes long) about something in the built environment and email it to djbscholarship@uk.rlb.com for your chance to win!
‘The Built Environment’ refers to things that have been built around us such as houses, railways, motorways, or bridges - to name a few. Send us a video of you explaining what you have picked and why for your chance to win the David Bucknall Scholarship.
We want to know:
Why did you choose this thing in the Built Environment?
What is good or bad about it?
If someone was going to build something similar, what lessons could they learn from it?
And anything else that you find interesting about it.
Submit your video now to djbscholarship@uk.rlb.com
Have you got what it takes?
You will not only need to impress the judges with your video submission to win this award. You will also need to commit to hard work throughout the course of your degree studies so that you pass all of your assessments.
Iman Farah Mohamed
Iman Farah Mohamed from Moseley School and Sixth Form was awarded the David Bucknall Scholarship in 2016 and is studying a three year BSc in Quantity Surveying.
Ann Bentley, global chair of Rider Levett Bucknall, said: "Iman’s video submission caught our attention immediately. She was so passionate in her presentation of the two buildings at Moseley School and obviously has a keen idea for detail and enthusiasm for the built environment. We look forward to helping her to pursue a successful career.”
Monique Hall-Smith
Monique Hall-Smith from Birmingham Metropolitan College was awarded the David Bucknall Scholarship in 2017 and chose to study a three year BSc in Real Estate.
Adam Ellis-Morgan, RLB managing partner, said: “We were impressed by all of the students who applied for the scheme this year but Monique stood out for the strength of her focus on a career in property. She has a clear vision of what she would like to achieve which David Bucknall would have applauded and we look forward to working with and supporting her as she progresses through her degree course.”
More information about a career in property and construction.
More about our courses and RLB

Our Built Environment courses
We offer a wide range of accredited courses ranging from Architectural Technology to Quantity Surveying and Real Estate.

Rider Levett Bucknall
An independent, global property and construction practice with over 3,600 people in more than 120 offices across the world.