Bursaries for Students

Bursaries are given by universities or colleges to eligible students. English universities and colleges who charge fees over £2,835 are obliged to provide extra financial help to students on a low income who receive the full Maintenance grant or special support grant.

You may also find that you university or college will give bursaries to students who are eligible for a proportion of the maintenance grant or special support grant. Financial help could be given in a variety of ways – for example, cash or discounted accommodation costs.

How much exactly you receive depends on the university but it will at least match the difference between the tuition fee charged and the £2,835 Maintenance grant or special support grant.

So, students who receive the full £2,835 maintenance grant or special support grant and who are being charged the full £3,145 tuition fee will receive a bursary of at least £310 from their university or college.

However, many universities are offering much more than this, take Kings College in London for example. They refer to their bursary as myBusary and they pay according to maintenance grants as follows:

• Maintenance Grant of £2,200-£2,835: myBursary of £1,250;
• Maintenance Grant of £1,500-£2,199: myBursary of £950;
• Maintenance Grant of £700-£1,499: myBursary of £350;
• Maintenance Grant of £50-£699: myBursary of £100;

Each university and college is different so it’s best to contact your university to find out what they offer.

The university or college will typically find out how much grant you are receiving directly off your LA and will automatically pay you the correct bursary, which can be paid in various different ways.

You will not have to repay any bursary you receive.