£1,000s of pupil funding is missed out on every year by college students who don’t even know that they’re eligible for it. Discover out whether or not you might be due any further monetary help…

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In case your solely plan for paying for uni includes a Student Loan and an impending sense of doom, you are lacking out!

There is a treasure trove of free cash lodged in pupil grants, scholarships and college bursaries. However many college students both do not learn about them, do not suppose they’re eligible, or simply do not hassle making use of.

Do not let that be you! Here is your starter for locating the funds you get to maintain.

What’s on this information?

  • 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
Except specified, many of the schemes on this web page are for undergraduate college students. See our guide to postgraduate funding for extra methods to receives a commission.

 

Varieties of pupil funding

Overlook looking down the again of the couch – in terms of pupil funding that would not must be paid again, there are a great deal of choices. Here is every sort, in addition to what the variations between them are:

What are pupil grants?

Scholar grants can be found to anybody at college who satisfies the factors. This consists of the Upkeep Grant, which is means-tested (that means the quantity you obtain depends upon your family revenue) and is accessible in Northern Eire, Scotland (the place it is often called the Bursary) and Wales.

Student grants, bursaries and scholarships
Student grants, bursaries and scholarships

Some charities, councils and companies additionally stump up funds, typically with delightfully particular standards – as these weird student grants show.

What are pupil bursaries?

A bursary is a pot of money with comparatively narrower standards, akin to being for care leavers, college students on particular programs, or these from lower-income backgrounds. Alternatively, the cash might be earmarked for particular bills, akin to childcare.

Bursaries are typically awarded on a first-come-first-served foundation, so you will must get in earlier than the pot’s empty.

What are pupil scholarships?

Scholar scholarships are funds aimed toward attracting (or supporting) high achievers. Do not go pondering that they are nearly being ebook good, although – your nation, gender, course and even your eSports skills may all internet you price waivers or free money.

What are pupil sponsorships and apprenticeships?

Profitable however more durable to search out, levels sponsored by an organization can internet you a wage and pay your charges. The trade-off is that it typically takes longer to get a level, as you will be working on the identical time.

However whether or not they’re grants, bursaries, awards or endowments, all of them do comparable issues. Simply go by whether or not they fit your circumstances, not what they’re referred to as.

Hardship funds are barely totally different. That is emergency money out of your uni that you could solely apply for when you’re in a little bit of bother. It is value figuring out about (simply in case), nevertheless it’s not cash you may (or ought to) plan for.

Scholar Finance

 

Here is what’s up for grabs in official undergraduate funding. You may apply for these along with other Student Finance.

We have outlined a few of the core standards for every sort of pupil funding, however if you happen to just like the sound of what is on provide, click on via and test the main points for your self.

On the naked minimal, it is best to count on funding to have some form of nationality and residence standards (some funds are only for college students already settled within the UK), plus limits on how a lot (if any) university-level research you have already executed.

As soon as you have nailed that lot, any money you get is paid immediately into your student bank account – so it is as much as you to make it final.

Upkeep Grant

Full-time college students from Northern Eire can apply for a Upkeep Grant to assist with living costs and, not like the Upkeep Mortgage, it would not need to be paid again.

Whereas that is a win, bear in mind any pupil grant you get means much less mortgage (you may’t max out each money pots except you are entitled to the Special Support Grant).

In Wales, the Upkeep Grant can also be referred to as the Welsh Authorities Studying Grant, which is not the identical because the Welsh Authorities Studying Grant (FE), which is for college students in additional training.

In England, Upkeep Grants are just for persevering with college students who began their course earlier than August 2016 – anybody who turned a pupil after that date is ineligible. Check out our Student Finance guide to see the way it impacts you.

Upkeep Grant eligibility standards

When you’re from Wales or Northern Eire, you might be eligible for a Upkeep Grant if you happen to meet all three of the next standards:

  • You reside within the UK (or meet different residency necessities)
  • You’re a full-time pupil learning for a recognised qualification
  • Your family revenue entitles you to a slice of the funding pie.

How a lot cash are you able to get?

The upper your family revenue, the much less grant you will get. Nonetheless, for college students from Wales, it will not impression how a lot funding you obtain in complete – your Upkeep Mortgage will improve by an equal quantity. In actual fact, in Wales, the one factor that impacts your total upkeep funding is the place you reside whereas learning.

Here is the way it stacks up:

Nation Max. grant Family revenue for full grant Family revenue for partial grant
Northern Eire £3,475 As much as £19,203 £19,204 – £41,065
Wales (residing at dwelling) £6,885 As much as £18,370 £18,371+
Wales (residing away from dwelling, exterior London) £8,100 As much as £18,370 £18,371+
Wales (residing at uni, in London) £10,124 As much as £18,370 £18,371+

 

Particular Help Grant (SSG)

When you’re on housing or revenue help, are a single guardian or have a incapacity, you could possibly swap the Upkeep Grant for a Particular Help Grant (in Wales you do not want to swap – some college students can get each).

You will get the identical payout however, not like a Upkeep Grant, it will not cut back the quantity of mortgage you may apply for. An SSG will not have an effect on any benefits you claim, both.

Particular Help Grant eligibility standards

You could possibly be eligible for the SSG if you happen to’re a full-time pupil from Northern Eire or Wales (or a seamless pupil from England who began their course previous to 1st August 2016) with particular circumstances, as an example:

  • You are a single guardian
  • You are a guardian and your companion can also be at college
  • You have got a incapacity
  • You declare, or are eligible for, some advantages, akin to Earnings Help or the housing component of Universal Credit.

How a lot cash are you able to get?

The Particular Help Grant matches regardless of the Maintenance Grant would pay you.

Bursary (Scotland)

In Scotland, upkeep cash that does not need to be paid again comes within the type of the SAAS Bursary.

How a lot you may get depends upon your family revenue, in addition to whether or not you are a ‘Younger pupil’ or an ‘Unbiased pupil’ – check out our information to Student Finance in Scotland if you happen to’re undecided which you might be.

SAAS Bursary eligibility standards

You could possibly be entitled to an SAAS (Scholar Awards Company Scotland) Bursary if you happen to meet all three of the next standards:

  • You usually stay in Scotland
  • You’re a full-time pupil learning a recognised qualification at a UK college
  • Your family revenue entitles you to a slice of the funding pie.

How a lot cash are you able to get?

Here is what’s at present up for grabs:

Family revenue Younger college students Unbiased college students
As much as £20,999 £2,000 £1,000
£21,000 – £23,999 £1,125 £0
£24,000 – £33,999 £500 £0
£34,000+ £0 £0

 

Scholar Finance top-ups

These piles of money are for particular circumstances, akin to course-related journey, well being situations or being financially chargeable for others. Apply for them via your Scholar Finance physique.

Journey grants

You could possibly get assist with journey bills if you are learning overseas as a part of your course or have medical placements within the UK which imply it’s good to journey loads.

Who’s eligible for journey grants?

You could possibly be entitled to a journey grant if:

  • You are in full-time college training
  • You meet the UK residence guidelines
  • You must journey within the UK for a medical placement (except you already get an NHS bursary)
  • You journey overseas to review as a part of your course.

College students learning overseas

For college students learning overseas, you may declare for return journeys between your own home and the abroad uni, assist with medical insurance coverage and visas.

In England and Wales, you may’t declare for the primary £303 of your prices, whereas in Northern Eire you may’t declare for the primary £309. In England, Wales and NI, journey grants are means-tested.

You should attend an abroad establishment for no less than half of every tutorial time period. This era of research could be obligatory or non-compulsory.

In Scotland, you may solely declare journey bills if learning overseas is a obligatory a part of your course and is not a paid placement. You’ll declare the price of your journey overseas and your medical insurance coverage. The quantity you obtain won’t be contingent in your family revenue.

You might also be capable of make a declare for bills linked to visas and baggage, however you will need to contact SAAS for these earlier than making the declare.

Oh, and you’ll neglect about sipping gin and juice along with your first-class train ticket. You will be anticipated to make use of the most cost effective type of transport (buses, not taxis), and can want receipts or data to assert bills (for England, Wales, Northern Eire and Scotland).

We clarify journey grants in every a part of the UK in additional element in our information to Student Finance on a year abroad.

College students finishing medical placements within the UK

College students having to journey throughout the UK for medical placements may additionally be capable of declare bills.

In England, Wales and Northern Eire you may apply for journey prices between your own home and the ability within the UK the place you are doing all of your placement.

In Scotland, no monetary help is obtainable by SAAS to cowl journey bills incurred throughout medical placements.

Disabled College students’ Allowances (DSA)

 

You probably have a incapacity, the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) may allow you to address the additional prices of going to uni. There’s help for bodily and mental health, in addition to situations akin to dyslexia and dyspraxia.

Funding would not need to be repaid and is not means-tested – however if you happen to’re already getting cash for a similar situations (akin to monetary help out of your uni), it’s possible you’ll not be capable of apply for DSA as nicely. Try the principles earlier than you apply.

How a lot cash are you able to get?

We have now a devoted information to DSA funding. Nonetheless, as a fast overview, here is how a lot full-time undergraduates can count on to get in 2022/23:

The place you might be from Most DSA funding out there in 2022/23
England • Single allowance: £25,575* per 12 months
Northern Eire • Single allowance: £25,000* per 12 months
Scotland • Giant gadgets allowance: £5,160 for the entire course
• Non-medical private assist allowance: £20,520 per 12 months
• Primary allowance: £1,725 per 12 months
Wales • Single allowance: £32,546* per 12 months

* This cover would not embody journey prices. Taking these into consideration, you might find yourself receiving greater than the acknowledged most.

You might also be capable of apply for journey bills.

Different sources of funding for disabled college students

You probably have a bodily incapacity, we would counsel that you simply test your college’s web site to see whether or not they provide scholarships for disabled college students (apart from the DSA).

You may also need to take a look at societies related to your trade (i.e. if you happen to needed to review Engineering, you might test what the Royal Academy of Engineering has to supply) and charities that present help to individuals along with your specific situation, as some provide funding or could possibly advise you on the place to search for further monetary help.

Bigger non-public firms may additionally provide help for college students with bodily disabilities getting into their area. You probably have an thought of the trade you’d wish to work in, test whether or not any of the large employers present funding or have a scheme particularly for disabled college students.

Our information to the Disabled Students’ Allowances explains the funding in way more element.

 

Dependants’ and childcare grants

When you’re financially chargeable for others, it’s possible you’ll be entitled to further assist. Once more, the place you are from within the UK will have an effect on what’s on provide, what it is referred to as and your eligibility.

As a result of these are funds for very particular circumstances, you will must test the phrases and situations rigorously (e.g. if solely single dad and mom are eligible) – together with whether or not they have an effect on different funding or state benefits you already get.

Dependants’ and childcare grants eligibility standards

Dependants’ and childcare grants are typically for college students:

  • Who’re entitled to Scholar Finance
  • Who’re financially chargeable for an grownup or youngster who lives with them
  • Whose revenue – or that of their family or an grownup dependant – qualifies them for assist.

How a lot cash are you able to get for childcare?

Here is a breakdown of the childcare grants out there throughout the UK:

Nation Funding out there
England As much as 85% of your childcare prices coated, as much as £183.75/week for one youngster, or £315.03 for 2 or extra
Northern Eire As much as 85% of your childcare prices coated, as much as £148.75/week for one youngster, or £255 for 2 or extra
Scotland (Lone Mother and father Childcare Grant) As much as £1,215, quantity is determined by your college or faculty
Wales As much as 85% of your childcare prices coated, as much as £184/week for one youngster, or £315 for 2 or extra

When you already get state benefits that pay for childcare, it’s possible you’ll not get the grant. You can also’t declare if you happen to get free childcare (or if you happen to rope in your kin to do it for you).

In Scotland you apply on to your faculty or uni for funds – in the remainder of the UK, it is via your Student Finance body.

How a lot cash are you able to get from the Mother and father’ Studying Allowance?

Separate from the childcare grants, full-time college students with kids are sometimes eligible for the Mother and father’ Studying Allowance.

The out there quantities are as follows:

Nation Funding out there (per 12 months)
England As much as £1,863
Northern Eire As much as £1,538
Scotland (Lone Mother and father Grant) As much as £1,305
Wales As much as £1,862

How a lot cash are you able to get from the Grownup Dependants’ Grant?

You probably have an grownup dependant, you may obtain as much as the next quantities:

Nation Funding out there
England As much as £3,263
Northern Eire As much as £2,695
Scotland As much as £2,640
Wales As much as £3,190

Receiving an Grownup Dependants’ Grant could have an effect on any income-related advantages or credit you obtain.

Scholar bursaries and scholarships

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Consider pupil bursaries and scholarships as money with standards – you could possibly seize funding to cowl your charges (or a hefty chunk of your residing prices), however you are going to have to leap via a couple of hoops to get it.

Schemes are run by universities, schools, charities, companies, native authorities and even non-public funders, and each has its personal guidelines for who will get a look-in.

Eligibility for bursaries and scholarships

Whether or not or not you are entitled to a bursary or scholarship will typically rely upon the next elements:

  • Family revenue
  • Gender
  • Nationality (not only for international students – some unis provide scholarships for UK college students too)
  • Grades
  • Sporting or musical expertise
  • The course or topic
  • Particular circumstances e.g. you will have kids or are a care leaver.

How a lot cash are you able to get?

Something from a couple of hundred kilos to a number of thousand! The cash will often both be paid as a one-off or in yearly wads.

Some universities provide bursaries to college students with lower than £25,000 in family revenue – others dole it out to everybody. Both means, it is the mom of all cashback offers, so it is nicely value investigating once you apply.

How you can apply for bursaries and scholarships

There are a great deal of locations to search out funding. Sadly, there isn’t any one-stop-shop, so you will must hit all of them up individually. Fortunately for you, we have a full record of student bursary and scholarship sources.

Course and profession funding

There’s course and career-related funding out there too:

NHS Bursary and different funding

There is a important quantity of additional funding on the market for college students on nursing, dentistry, drugs or different associated healthcare levels.

And it definitely is useful that learning these topics often requires some severe brainpower, as determining precisely what you might be and are not eligible for is sort of worthy of a level in itself. What’s extra, on prime of the NHS Bursary (which is barely out there for college students from England), there may be additionally an entire vary of different comparable funds on the market.

Luckily, we have a complete (and, extra importantly, straightforward to know) information to the NHS Bursary and other related grants. However as a taster, listed below are a few of the sorts of funding you might be eligible for:

  • Tuition price waiver
  • Bursary (each means-tested and non-means-tested)
  • Entry to common Scholar Finance if you happen to’re ineligible for NHS funding
  • Additional help for disabilities, dependants or journey prices.

The place to use for funding

England: NHS Business Services Authority

Northern Eire: Student Finance Northern Ireland

Scotland: Student Awards Agency Scotland

Wales: Student Award Services.

Discover out extra about NHS bursaries in our in-depth information.

 

Social Work Bursaries (SWB)

For college students beginning social levels, incentives are patchy, with some schemes not out there in all components of the UK. In Scotland, for instance, bursaries are solely out there for postgraduate college students.

Both means, any bursaries out there shall be capped to a restricted variety of college students every year.

The place they’re out there, college students may even obtain an allowance to cowl bills incurred by work-based studying (e.g. journey).

Social Work Bursaries eligibility standards

You could possibly be entitled to a Social Work Bursary if:

  • You meet residency guidelines in the nation offering the funding
  • You are on an accepted course
  • Aren’t already getting comparable funding for social work coaching (not together with Scholar Finance).

How a lot cash are you able to get?

Nation Full-time college students
England As much as £5,262.50/12 months (together with journey allowance)
Northern Eire £4,000/12 months (plus journey allowance)
Wales £2,500/12 months (plus journey allowance)

Notice: On the time of writing, data wasn’t out there for the 2022/23 tutorial 12 months. The desk above makes use of the figures from the 2021/22 tutorial 12 months, and we’ll replace it when the brand new data is accessible. 

The place to use for funding

England: NHS Business Services Authority

Northern Eire: Your course supplier will contact you with particulars of the scheme (more info)

Wales: Social Care Wales.

Instructing grants and bursaries

When you’re making use of to review a instructor coaching diploma, you get entry to the identical Scholar Finance (grants, bursaries and loans) as everybody else.

You may also be capable of nibble on further funding within the type of educating grants and bursaries. However, sadly, they are much more durable for undergraduates to get a chunk of – most funding is for postgraduates solely.

Instructing grants and bursaries eligibility standards

You could possibly be eligible for a educating grant or bursary if:

  • You are learning an preliminary instructor coaching diploma course (akin to a BEd, BSc or BA) or PGCE
  • You meet the topic and/or residence standards.

How a lot cash are you able to get?

It varies by nation and topic demand (‘golden good day’ incentives could be fairly profitable if there aren’t sufficient academics in a specific area).

There are much more funding alternatives (and for a wider vary of topics) when you get into postgrad educating (particularly if you happen to get a first class degree at undergrad stage!).

The place to use for funding

England: Department for Education

Northern Eire: Northern Ireland Services Direct

Scotland: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (more info)

Wales: Welsh Government.

 

Hardship funds

If you end up struggling to get by when you begin your course, there’s one final choice for finance to see you thru: hardship funds out of your uni. We have now a devoted guide to hardship funding which works into much more element, however here is a fast abstract.

What the scheme is referred to as (e.g. Entry to Studying Fund), how a lot is within the pot and the way it’s paid will fluctuate by establishment however, because the title implies, the cash’s there to assist critically skint college students.

Hardship funds eligibility standards

You could possibly qualify for a hardship fund if:

  • You are a full-time pupil (together with postgrads)
  • You may show you have managed your funds responsibly.

How a lot are you able to get?

Payouts will fluctuate, and it will be the uni that decides who will get what. Any cash you get shall be to cowl prices not coated by different types of funding (i.e. if you happen to’re entitled to Scholar Finance, you will must have utilized for it already).

Hardship funds do not simply come within the type of a grant – it’s possible you’ll be provided a mortgage as an alternative. Do not be delay by that, although – if you happen to’ve fudged up your funds, help out of your uni beats bank card or payday loan debt hands-down.

How you can apply

Look out for the fund as it is going to be referred to as one thing like ‘Entry to Studying Fund’ in lots of English unis.

In any other case, go to your college’s pupil companies workplace. Be ready for the scholar help crew to scrutinise your financial institution statements, your spending and your finances (make one now and you will be sorted when the time comes!).

All the time test what the phrases and situations of your funding are if you happen to decide to drop out of uni if you happen to’re not satisfied uni’s the appropriate selection for you.

 

8 golden guidelines totally free pupil funding

Listed below are some suggestions relating to pupil grants, bursaries and scholarships:

  1. Apply early, particularly if funding is restricted. Permitting further time to fill out the paperwork means you are extra more likely to get the money once you want it.
  2. If you do not get in early, do not assume you have missed the boat – you may apply for Scholar Finance as much as 9 months after your course begins. Try the Student Finance deadlines.
  3. Examine, test and triple test if handouts have an effect on different funding or rely in direction of family revenue.
  4. Sniff out any strings concerned. Does it need to be repaid? What occurs if you happen to depart your course early? Are you able to spend it on no matter you want?
  5. Get educated about what counts as income. It may imply not lacking out on funds unnecessarily (it may prevent on mortgage repayments in a while, too).
  6. Money administration is king. Discover ways to put it aside, stretch it and work it like a boss.
  7. Exhaust the funding choices on this web page earlier than borrowing from industrial lenders. When you nonetheless want further money, a 0% student overdraft ought to be your subsequent cease.
  8. Do not hand over! Discovering one thing you are eligible for can take severe dedication. When you’re drawing a clean, do not forget there are other ways to turn a buck. Use ’em.

Worldwide pupil? There are many scholarships and student funding up for grabs for you too.