Rural insurer NFU Mutual has opened applications for its annual award scheme, which provides bursaries that pay up to 75% of course fees for selected postgraduate students.
The Centenary Award was created by the NFU Mutual Charitable Trust in 2010 to celebrate NFU Mutual’s 100th anniversary, with the objective of creating a legacy for the future.
To date, 57 agricultural students have received bursaries to help further their studies.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and advance my career position with the support of this prestigious award."
2025 Centenary Award winner Maeve Leith
Who can apply?
The 2026 award is open to individuals who have gained, or are expected to gain, a 2:1 or above in agriculture or a related degree, and have been accepted or provisionally accepted on a master’s or PhD course in agriculture in the UK commencing in the 2026/2027 academic year.
The NFU Mutual Charitable Trust has also identified four areas of interest for eligible students. At least one of these areas must form part of the applicant’s postgraduate course:
- The application of science and innovative technologies to enhance productivity, efficiency, and profitability for UK farming businesses
- Building resilience and safeguarding the physical and mental wellbeing of those living and working in the UK agricultural industry
- Tackling the risks of climate change, whilst maintaining food security, to improve the sustainability of UK agriculture
- Identifying opportunities for supporting nature and biodiversity in the development of farming and land management practices in the UK.
Judges will be looking for applicants who are not only excellent academic performers but also have a real passion for UK agriculture and demonstrate potential to become a future industry leader.
How to apply
The closing date for the 2026 award is midnight 30 June 2026. Information about the scheme, along with an application form, can be found on nfumutual.co.uk.
For any queries, email [email protected]
How the award can support your work
Last year, Maeve Leith was selected for the award to support her PhD at the University of Exeter.
Focusing on Dartmoor National Park, Maeve’s research will explore the voices of farmers, conservationists and other stakeholders to understand how land use decisions are made. By exploring both conflict and common ground, she aims to help understand approaches that enable people and nature to thrive together.
Speaking about her work, Maeve explained: “My long-term aspiration is to continue working at the interface between farming, ecology, and rural policy, helping to build more trusting, collaborative relationships across sectors. I am very grateful for the opportunity to enhance my knowledge and advance my career position with the support of this prestigious award.”
Announcing Maeve’s Centenary Award bursary, Jim McLaren MBE, NFU Mutual Chairman, said: “Our Centenary Award bursary scheme aims to champion research and innovation for the UK agricultural industry, whilst also supporting passionate individuals to advance their careers.
“We are delighted to be supporting Maeve’s postgraduate course with our Centenary Award bursary and wish her all the very best for her studies.”