Students have the chance to apply for six scholarship opportunities that will see them receive £5,000 worth of funding to support their degrees after the deadline was extended.

Prospective undergraduates at the Royal Agricultural University and the University of Reading can apply for the funding, launched by Jordans Cereals and The Prince’s Countryside Fund Sustainable Agriculture Bursary, throughout their degree.

The deadline has now been extended to Friday, August 30 at 12pm.

The Sustainable Agriculture Bursary will fund UK based undergraduate students under the age of 35 to support their academic studies and help pursue their interest in, and knowledge of, sustainable farming and agricultural practices.

The six successful applicants will each receive a £3000 cash award in their first year, and a further £1000 cash award (provided by their university) in both their second and third years of study.

All four partners are dedicated to caring for nature and the environment, and the bursary is part of their long-term commitment to help build a more sustainable future for all by making a positive impact in agriculture.

Prospective undergraduate students who have confirmed the Royal Agricultural University or The University of Reading as their first-choice place of study on UCAS for September 2019 are eligible to apply.

They can do so by filling in an online application form explaining why they’re interested in sustainable farming.

The recipients of the bursary will also have exclusive access to mentoring from experts at Jordans and The Prince’s Countryside Fund, as well as benefitting from event invitations and access to both organisations’ networks.

This presents a unique opportunity to broaden learning potential and to support a more interesting, dynamic CV for future employment in farming and agriculture.

Alex Murphy, Jordans marketing manager, said: “At Jordans Cereals, we’re committed to protecting nature and the wider environment around us. We’re proud of our new bursary scheme designed to actively support the next generation of farmers, helping farming become even more sustainable in the future.”

Claire Saunders, Director of The Prince’s Countryside Fund added: “The Fund is delighted to be working with Jordans to provide this bursary, and we are grateful to the RAU and Reading for their support. We hope that this opportunity will help inspire students to consider how they can farm in the most sustainable and productive way.”

Professor Joanna Price, Vice-Chancellor of the RAU, also said: “The need to produce more food in a sustainable way while protecting the environment, boosting the rural economy and enhancing its communities, creates a wealth of career opportunities within the land-based sector. The RAU is delighted to have been chosen to offer this bursary and we look forward to welcoming its first recipients later this year.”