Grants, Scholarships & Bursaries

University can be expensive, but your Maintenance Loan is rarely the only money available to you. Every year, millions of pounds in free funding go unclaimed simply because students don’t know it exists or don’t apply in time.

Unlike student loans, grants, scholarships, and bursaries do not need to be repaid. They are essentially free money to support your education, living costs, or travel expenses. Whether you are a high academic achiever, a student from a low-income household, or simply someone with a specific talent or circumstance, there is likely a fund out there for you.

Know the Difference

Government Grants & Support

Before looking for private money, ensure you have claimed everything available from the government via Student Finance. These are statutory entitlements for valid applicants in the UK.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

If you have a disability, a long-term health condition, a mental health condition, or a specific learning difficulty (like dyslexia), you can apply for DSA. This covers the extra costs you have because of a mental or physical disability.

• It does not depend on your household income.
• It can pay for specialist equipment, non-medical helpers, and travel.

Dependants’ Grants

If you are financially responsible for another adult or a child, there is specific help available.

• Childcare Grant: Helps with childcare costs for children under 15 (or under 17 if they have special educational needs).
• Parents’ Learning Allowance: Helps with your learning costs if you have dependent children.
• Adult Dependants’ Grant: For students with an adult who depends on them financially.

University-Specific Funding

Universities often have their own pots of money to help students. These are usually established by alumni donations or university reserves.

The “Hidden” Funds

Many universities offer a Hardship Fund (sometimes called the Access to Learning Fund). If you find yourself in genuine financial difficulty during your course, you can apply to your university for emergency help. This is discretionary, but it is a vital safety net.

Academic & Sports Scholarships

When applying for courses through UCAS, check the ‘Fees and Funding’ tab for each university. Many offer cash awards for students who achieve AAB or higher at A-Level, or for those who compete in sports at a county or national level.

Charities, Trusts, and Private Grants

There are thousands of smaller charities in the UK that offer grants for education. Some are very niche. For example, there are grants for the children of grocers, vegetarians, or people from specific parishes.

To find these, you need to use a grant search tool. We recommend using the Turn2us grant search. It is a reputable charity database that allows you to filter by your background and location.

Search the Turn2us Database

Subject-Specific Funding

Certain career paths have dedicated funding bodies designed to encourage new entrants into the workforce.

• NHS Courses: Nursing, midwifery, and many allied health students can access the NHS Learning Support Fund. This offers a training grant of £5,000 per academic year which you do not need to pay back. Visit NHSBSA for details.
• Social Work: Students may be eligible for a Social Work Bursary in their second and third years.
• Teaching: The Department for Education offers tax-free bursaries and scholarships for trainees in certain subjects (like Maths, Physics, and Computing).

3 Tips for Securing a Scholarship