GIA Surveyors (with offices across the UK and Ireland) has almost 30 years of experience in the Built Environment. We take pride in attracting the industry’s brightest and most creative minds, to help form our distinct and pioneering perspectives. Specialising in Rights of Light, Daylight and Sunlight, Neighbourly Matters, Wind Analysis and Plan Tech, we provide a holistic perspective to planning and development. By using cutting edge technology to analyse and inform, we provide a broader and more contextual approach. Challenging current thinking, we deliver incisive solutions for every project on which we consult. We are delighted to announce three new scholarships to support students from minority ethnic backgrounds interested in studying Architecture (x1 Undergraduate) and Real Estate Surveying (x2 Postgraduate) scholarships in support of Higher Education Without Barriers fund. The GIA Surveyors Scholarships are worth £2,000 per student and will be awarded to academically talented students from minority ethnic backgrounds, so they can study one of Northumbria University’s Built Environment courses. The scholarships commence in September 2023/24 and will support students with their living costs.

Sinead Dartnell, Head of HR at GIA, said: “We strive to ensure that our 150-strong team are as diverse culturally as the personalities and skill sets we have to offer. With an active Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee, everything we do as a business is created through a lens of inclusivity, ensuring all employees feel supported and safe in the office and among clients. With a focus on how we can help to increase diversity across the real estate industry, the GIA Scholarship feels like the natural next step - and something we are incredibly proud to be associated with.”

Oliver Nicholson, Associate Partner at GIA and alumnus of Northumbria (BSc Estate Management 2014) said: “The DEI committee hopes the scholarships not only support students throughout their studies, but also assure prospective students that there are many fantastic companies within the Real Estate Industry who are actively seeking to improve diversity and equity across their businesses. The scholarships were inspired by this year’s theme for Black History Month, “Time for Action: Not Words” and build on GIA’s commitment to Mayor’s Fund for London’s Firm Foundations campaign and Access Aspiration programme. We hope our actions inspire others to create similar programmes and commitments in the industry.”

Simone Pagani, Senior Partner & Head of Daylight Department at GIA, said: “We take pride in being innovative and creative, which is hugely enhanced by having a more diverse workforce. It is evident that our industry needs to change and we look forward to playing a part in diversifying the Real Estate industry to ensure that it is inclusive for all and the best it can be for the next generation to join. We love what we do and are proud to be able to share this with the students who will take up the GIA Scholarships.”

To be eligible for The GIA Scholarship you must;

• Have one of the following categories of ethnicity:
• Asian or Asian British
  • Indian
  • Pakistani
  • Bangladeshi
  • Chinese
  • Any other Asian background
• Black, Black British, Caribbean or African
  • Caribbean
  • African
  • Any other Black, Black British, or Caribbean background
• Mixed or multiple ethnic groups
  • White and Black Caribbean
  • White and Black African
  • White and Asian
  • Any other Mixed or multiple ethnic background
• Other ethnic group
  • Arab
  • Any other ethnic group
• Be a UK/Home applicant with 'Home' fee status
• Apply to study on a Full-time one year Real Estate Msc programme* commencing September 2023 at the Newcastle Upon Tyne campus
• Meet the terms and conditions and accept your offer
• Be a self-funded student
• Not have fees which are paid in full or in part through a sponsorship arrangement, i.e. employer funded

*Eligible Courses:

• MSc Real Estate
• MSc Real Estate (International)

• The students selected for the GIA Scholarship will not be eligible for other Northumbria Postgraduate Scholarships which includes, The Vice-Chancellor's Scholarship
• If you are selected and are a Northumbria Alumni, you will also be eligible for the Alumni Discount
• The GIA Scholarship is awarded as a cash sum
• The successful students will receive a £2,000 cash payment on a Full-Time one year Real Estate programme studied at the Newcastle Upon Tyne Campus in September 2023
• The cash award will be paid as: 25% in November 2023, 25% in February 2024, and 50% in May 2024
• The successful students will be required to send a thank you letter and progress updates to the donor
• If you do not provide a thank you letter and progress updates to the donor, the scholarship offer may be withdrawn
• If you defer your place, the scholarship offer will be withdrawn
• If you decide to leave your course after a scholarship payment has been made, the University will not make efforts to reclaim the amount
• Northumbria reserves the right to withdraw this scheme at any point
• The University's decision is final and cannot be challenged; there is no right of appeal

• There is a competitive selection process for this scholarship scheme.  Applicants need to apply via online written application.  In no more than 1000 characters; 'What are your career aspirations in Real Estate and how will the GIA Scholarship help you achieve these?'

• The successful applicant will be notified once the evaluation panel has met, by no later than Friday 20 October 2023.