£1,000s of funding is missed out on each year by students who don’t even know that they’re eligible for it. Find out whether you could be due any extra financial support…

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If your only plan for paying for uni involves a Student Loan and an impending sense of doom, you're missing out!

There's a treasure trove of free money lodged in grants, scholarships and bursaries, but many students either don't know about them, don't think they're eligible, or just don't bother applying.

Don't let that be you! Here's your starter for finding the funds you get to keep. 🙂

What's in this guide?

• Types of funding
• Maintenance Grant
• Special Support Grant
• Maintenance Bursary (Scotland)
• Travel grant
• Disabled students' allowances
• Dependants' and childcare grants
• Bursaries and scholarships
• NHS bursaries
• Social work bursaries
• Teaching grants and funding
• Hardship funds
• 8 golden rules for free funding

Most of the schemes on this page are for undergrad students. See our guide to postgraduate funding for more ways to get paid!

Types of student funding

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Forget hunting down the back of the sofa – when it comes to student funding that doesn't need to be paid back, these are the areas to look for:

• Grants – Available to anyone who satisfies the criteria, such as the means-tested (tested on your household income) Maintenance Grant, known as the Bursary in Scotland. Some charities, councils and businesses also stump up funds, with delightfully specific criteria – as these weird student grants prove.
• Bursaries – Cash with narrower criteria (e.g. for students from lower-income backgrounds, care leavers, or those on specific courses) or earmarked for specific expenses, such as childcare. Bursaries are sometimes awarded on a first-come-first-served basis, so you'll need to get in before the pot's empty.
• Scholarships – Funds aimed at attracting (or supporting) high achievers. Don't think they're just about being book smart, though – your country, gender, course or even your eSports skills could all net you fee waivers or free cash.
• Sponsorships/apprenticeships – Lucrative but harder to find, degrees sponsored by a company can net you a salary and pay your fees. The trade-off is that it takes longer to get a degree (as you'll be working at the same time).

Whether they're grants, bursaries, awards or endowments, they all do similar things. Just go by whether they suit your circumstances, not what they're called!

Hardship funds are slightly different. This is emergency cash from your uni that you can only apply for once you're in a bit of trouble. It's worth knowing about (just in case), but it's not money you can (or should) plan for.

Student Finance

Here's what's up for grabs in official undergraduate funding. You can apply for these along with other Student Finance.

We've outlined some of the core criteria for each type of funding, but if you like the sound of what's on offer, click through and check the details for yourself.

At the bare minimum, you should expect funding to have some kind of nationality and residence criteria (some funds are just for students already settled in the UK), plus limits on how much (if any) university-level study you've already done.

Once you've nailed that lot, any cash you get is paid directly into your bank account – so it's up to you to make it last!

Maintenance Grant

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Full-time students from Northern Ireland can apply for a Maintenance Grant to help with living costs and, unlike the Maintenance Loan, it doesn't have to be paid back.

While that's a win, remember any grant you get means less loan (you can't max-out both cash pots unless you're entitled to the Special Support Grant).

In Wales, the Maintenance Grant is also called the Welsh Government Learning Grant, which is not the same as the Welsh Government Learning Grant (FE), which is for students in further education.

In England, Maintenance Grants are only for continuing students who started their course before August 2016 – anyone who became a student after that date is ineligible. Take a look at our Big Fat Guide to Student Finance to see how it affects you.

Maintenance Grant eligibility criteria

You could be eligible for a Maintenance Grant in Wales or Northern Ireland if you meet all three of the following criteria:

• You live in the UK (or meet other residency requirements)
• You are a full-time student studying for a recognised qualification
• Your household income entitles you to a slice of the funding pie.

How much money can you get?

The higher your household income, the less grant you'll get. Here's how it stacks up:

Country	Max. grant	Household income for full grant	Household income for partial grant
Northern Ireland	£3,475	up to £19,203	£19,204 – £41,065
Wales	£10,124	up to £18,370	£18,371 and above

Special Support Grant (SSG)

If you're on housing or income support, are a single parent or have a disability, you may be able to swap the Maintenance Grant for a Special Support Grant (in Wales you don't need to swap – some students can get both!).

You'll get the same payout but, unlike Maintenance Grants, it won't reduce the amount of loan you can apply for. An SSG won't affect your benefits, either.

Special Support Grant eligibility criteria

You could be eligible for the SSG if you're a full-time student from Wales or Northern Ireland (or a continuing student from England who started their course prior to August 2016) with special circumstances, for instance:

• You're a single parent
• You're a parent and your partner is also at university
• You have a disability
• You claim, or are eligible for, income support or housing benefit.

 The government is now offering up to £11,222 in Postgraduate Loans to English master's students looking to study at a UK university. But are you eligible for the loan?

Unsurprisingly, the Postgraduate Loan (also known as the Master's Loan) comes with its fair share of small print that can be hard to get your head around at first.

There's a lot of info to take in, but luckily we've done the hard work for you by simmering it all down to the cold hard facts.

So, if you're considering doing a master's degree now or in the future, or you're already on a postgrad course, read on to find out exactly what funding is on offer, and whether the Postgraduate Loan is right for you.

What's in this guide?

• Eligibility for Postgraduate Student Loans
• The cost of studying a master's degree
• How much is the Postgraduate Loan?
• How is the Postgraduate Loan paid?
• Repaying your Postgraduate Loan
• Can you get a Postgraduate Loan if you already have a Student Loan?
• How to apply for the Postgraduate Student Loan
• Is the Postgraduate Master's Loan worth it?
• Alternatives to the Postgraduate Loan

Not from England? No worries – we've got guides to Postgraduate Loans in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

Eligibility for Postgraduate Student Loans

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If you meet the following criteria, you should be eligible for a Postgraduate Loan:

1. You're a UK or EU citizen who has been living in the UK for the past three years or more
2. You 'normally' live in England, not just for the purpose of studying
3. You're under the age of 60
4. This your first master's or equivalent degree (excluding postgraduate diplomas or PGCEs)
5. You're applying for a full master's course (as opposed to a graduate diploma or equivalent)
6. You are applying to study at a UK university (whether in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
7. You're up to date with your existing Student Loan repayments.

Remember that you'll get your loan from the Student Finance body in the part of the UK you're from, not the country you're studying in.

Note that there are some exceptions to these rules, so it's always worth getting in touch with Student Finance England to double-check your eligibility. For instance, if you previously received a Master's Loan but dropped out of your course due to illness, you'd still be eligible a second time around.

There are also several additional conditions on which your application will be judged – we've just kept it simple by listing the main criteria. See the full details here.

Cost of tuition fees for master's degrees

The cost of master's courses in the UK varies depending on the type of course and university. Remember, master's degrees can be taught or research-based, and that's before you even consider the different costs associated with different subjects and universities.

Master's degrees can cost as little as £4,900 a year to well over £30,000, and it's these huge outliers that mean the average cost (according to UCAS) is about £11,000 a year – a tad more than the maximum loan amount.

However, it's worth noting that this financial support isn't just a Tuition Fee Loan – it's a Maintenance Loan, too (to help cover living costs). Don't just look at the amount available and think "oh, it covers my tuition, that's great" – you'll want to have some leftover to live on.

To find out exactly how much your course costs, check out your university's website.

 Thinking about postgraduate study, but worried about the cost? We’ll let you in on a little secret – you can do a Master's in Europe for free (and in English)!

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If you're stuck between travelling or further study after graduating, why not combine both and do an MA in Europe? The best part is it could be completely free!

You can now get postgrad loans to cover the cost of studying an MA in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, but it'll still add to your pile of student debt and you'll likely have to stump up for living costs.

But many countries in Europe have state-funded universities meaning that EU students can study for free! We've picked out some of the best options.

Brexit disclaimer: After the UK leaves the EU it's likely the situation will change and UK students may not have the same access to free education abroad. We'll update this article when we know more.

Is university free in Europe?

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Not everywhere, but in some countries it certainly is! Many of Europe’s university systems are publicly funded, which means that higher education is often partially or fully subsidised by each country’s government.

As a result, they can provide top class education for a fraction of the price we currently pay in the UK, and in some cases even offer free courses.

In other words, UK students can avoid high tuition fees at home by hopping over to mainland Europe to study instead – as long as we remain in the EU, that is!

The only catch is that some countries that offer free tuition have higher living costs than the UK, meaning the money you save on your degree could end up going on rent and food instead - so make sure you do some thorough research before picking your destination!

Interested in studying in Europe as an undergrad? Our complete guide to studying in Europe has everything you need to know!

The 5 best places to do a free master's degree

Here’s our pick of some of the best cities in Europe where you could do a master's for free and make your home for a year or two.

We’ve chosen these cities not just because they offer free (or substantially cheaper) postgrad courses in English (and at some of the best unis in the world) but because we think these cities are student friendly and would make for a particularly interesting experience abroad.

1. Berlin, Germany

   

   Easily one of the trendiest cities in Europe, Berlin is super laid back and a serious hotspot for creativity. Also the home of German techno, you certainly won’t struggle to come across some great bars and clubs for a good night out. Berlin not only oozes with coolness, but you’ll be happy to hear it’s also really cheap to live there!

   Master's tuition fees for UK students: None

   Non-EU student tuition fees: Free in Berlin, although other areas of the country have started charging non-EU students.

   Best universities for overseas students: Freie University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin

   Financial support available to UK students: None, unless one of your parents has German citizenship, you have a German spouse or you've lived in Germany for five years. Check out DAAD UK for postgraduate scholarships for study in Germany.

   % of the population able to chat about the weather in English: 56% (in Germany overall, but this figure will be much higher in their multicultural capital)

   Cost of a pint: £2.40

   Why choose Germany? Germany has been cited as one of the most supportive countries for international students worldwide, and Berlin’s prestigious universities combined with low living costs make it an ideal location for studying abroad.

   What’s the catch? Most students are required to pay an administration fee or ‘Semesterbeitrag’ of €50-100 per semester depending on the university. However, this often also covers a public transport ticket and entitles you to discounts, so it’s not money for nothing!

2. Copenhagen, Denmark

   

   Credit: Tommy Larey - Shutterstock

   Dubbed “the coolest kid on the Nordic block” by Lonely Planet, Copenhagen is stylish to the core. Thanks to its high standards of living, chic shops and bars and low crime rate, it’s no wonder Copenhagen is also considered one of Europe’s ‘most livable’ cities. It’s not the cheapest choice, but if you budget effectively and avoid the city centre, you can turn your Danish dreams into reality.
   
   Master's tuition fees for UK students: None

   Non-EU student tuition fees: Tuition fees range between €6,000 and €16,000 a year

   Best universities for overseas students: University of Copenhagen, Technical University of Denmark

   Financial support available to UK students: Typically none unless you've lived in Denmark for five years or more or you're married to or the child of a Danish citizen. Check out the Danish State Educational Support website for more details.

   % of the population able to chat about the weather in English: 86%

   Cost of a pint: £5.08

 If you don't have the cash needed to study your dream degree, why not try crowdfunding? It might sound pretty daunting, but plenty of students have done it before. Here's how...

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If you're struggling to pull together the funds you need to get yourself to university, crowdfunding probably isn't the first thing that springs to mind.

It's certainly not the easiest way to make money, and it won't suit everyone. But, if you're good at marketing yourself online, and you've got a great story to tell, crowdfunding for your studies could be the ideal route for you.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about crowdfunding your degree, and whether it could be the answer to your financial woes.

What's in this guide?

• What is crowdfunding?
• Can anyone become a crowdfunder?
• Examples of ideal student crowdfunding candidates
• Pros and cons of starting a crowdfunding campaign
• Tips for crowdfunding success
• The best crowdfunding sites for students
• Examples of students who have crowdfunded their degree

Check out our guide to the price of university for everything you need to know about how much your degree will cost you.

What is crowdfunding?

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Crowdfunding is basically relying on the generosity of others (family, friends, academics and strangers alike) to donate towards a cause – in this case, the costs of your degree.

You set up an online crowdfunding page (these are the best sites to use) and promote it to the public, the press and the internet at large in the hope that generous people will help you out, and be nice enough to contribute in some way towards your financial goal.

Use your fundraising page to tell the world your story and explain why you're asking for donations. You'll also have to set a financial target that matches the cost of your degree, and be honest!

Don't set your target at £20,000 if you're applying for a master's course that costs £10,000 unless you make clear why you need the extra cash. Otherwise, anyone can just Google your course and see how much it costs.

What to do if you don't reach your crowdfunding target

Different crowdfunding sites have different policies on this, so you'll have to check the small print to be sure. Some sites will refund all your donors if you don't meet your target, whereas others will allow you to keep however much you make.

Watch out for this, because if you set your target too high, you could end up with nothing.

Can anyone set up a crowdfunding campaign?

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Technically, yes! Anyone can try their hand at crowdfunding their degree, but whether you'll be successful with it is another story.

Crowdfunding is clearly a better option for some students than others.

For example, there's no point in crowdfunding the costs of your tuition fees if you could easily get the money through a Tuition Fee Loan from Student Finance.

And if you're trying to crowdfund a bit of extra money to help you cover living costs, people might wonder why you don't just get a part-time job to help you through.

On the other hand, crowdfunding for a postgraduate degree is a bit easier, and a lot more common. Although the government have now introduced financial support for master's degrees and PhD courses, the money doesn't go as far and can be more difficult to access.

International students often use crowdfunding too, as they face much higher tuition fees than home students and get very little government financial support.

In a nutshell, if you can show that without the generosity of the public, you genuinely would not be able to afford university, then crowdfunding could be a good option.