Bradford University has unveiled a pioneering scholarship scheme worth thousands of pounds to people interested in helping regenerate their communities.

The Accent Scholarship, launched today, will give £1,500 a year to three people who firmly accept a place on the institution's undergraduate programme in Community Regeneration and Development from September, 2007.

Supported by community investment business the Accent Group, successful applicants will each receive funding of £4,500 for the three-year course.

David Boardman, course leader for undergraduate community regeneration courses at the University of Bradford, said: "This is a great opportunity as community regeneration represents building a sustainable future, with jobs opening up across the full range of the sector.

"For those interested in improving health, housing, community safety or supporting young people, our course will help you into those careers, and we are very grateful to the Accent Group for their support in this."

Maud Marshall, chief executive of Bradford Centre Regeneration, which is leading the re-building of the city centre, welcomed the scholarships.

She said: "The community plays an important role in any regeneration project and it is hugely encouraging that students are being given the opportunity to develop skills in community regeneration.

"We have ensured that the role of consultation and what is important to people in the city has played a central role in developing the city's regeneration and I am glad to see that we are developing and nurturing this approach in Bradford and Yorkshire."

To qualify, applicants must be from the UK or other EU countries, looking to work in the UK after they graduate and be committed to regeneration work in the Yorkshire region.

Prospective students must submit a 500-word statement, detailing previous experience they have in the area of community regeneration and listing the ways in which the course would contribute to their career goals. David Barrow, director of social operations at the Accent Group, said: "We have been providing general scholarships through our foundation for three years, but we decided that we needed to focus scholarships on courses and programmes that closely aligned to our objectives as a community investment business.

"Of all the courses offered by universities across the country, the Community Regeneration and Development degree offered by the University of Bradford, on our doorstep, was easily the closest fit."

Applications must be submitted by Friday, June 29.

Course co-ordinators will make a decision and inform all applicants by Friday, August, 10.

Successful Accent Scholarship students would also still be eligible to receive the University of Bradford's bursary of £500 in their first year, £700 in year two and £900 in year three.

For more information about the scholarship or studying Community Regeneration and Development at the University of Bradford, contact Janet Scrimgeour on (01274) 233210 or e-mail learning@bradford.ac.uk.