Monkeytrousers... First and foremost CONGRATULATIONS. You've done really well and I'm with the others who think your dp is well out of order!
Secondly... about the studentship... Is it a 'local' studentship, i.e. based within your own department or institution? Is a First actually a prerequisite or are you just assuming that you'll need a First to compete with other applicants? Have you applied to the AHRC? It's not unknown for the AHRC to give studentships to people with 2.1s (though obviously it's more unusual - they have to weed people out somehow)- much will depend on your proposal and how much they like it, and on your references. You should also bear in mind that if you have applied for an internal scholarship, you may end up on a waiting list - but the people above you may be the people with Firsts, who may be successful in getting funding from other bodies (AHRC or whatever), so you may move up the list come August, when the AHRC results are out. All is not lost! There will definitely be other things you can apply for, though probably not now for next academic year. You may have to consider taking a year away from it and reapplying for next year. I don't know your circs, but you might consider applying to the Wingate Foundation (here ) who actively encourage applications from mature students and those from 'non-traditional' educational backgrounds. You should also definitely consider looking at other universities (if there are others local to you) to see if they offer anything suitable. I think that there may also be money specifically targetted at the interface between the arts and the sciences (Wellcome Foundation?) which you might explore. Don't give up...!
And CONGRATULATIONS again... When do you graduate? I get to call out the names of graduands this year and am dead nervous. I'm sure I will fall off the stage or doff my cap and not be able to get it back on my head or drop my list of names or something....