£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 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!
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.
For students wanting grants and bursaries as its not as simple as it seems. There is a lot to consider, including student accommodation such as https://merakistudent.com/accommodation/cardiff/
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