Introducing bursaries
This section aims to give students basic information about bursaries and scholarships – what they are, where to find out information about them and how to claim them. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, check out our student ‘Frequently asked questions ’.
Please note that OFFA only regulates bursaries for English undergraduates studying full-time at English universities and colleges. We do not give out bursaries – they are awarded by individual universities and colleges.
What are bursaries and scholarships?
Bursaries and scholarships are extra money to help you with the cost of going to university. They’re paid annually by individual universities and colleges. You can get bursaries and scholarships on top of any student loans and grants you claim and you don’t have to pay them back.
Most bursaries and scholarships are 100 per cent cash but some universities and colleges offer part of their bursary in the form of a discounted service, for example, discounted accommodation or entrance to sports facilities.
At OFFA, we use the term ‘bursaries’ to refer to income-related awards and ‘scholarships’ to refer to awards based on other criteria, for example, academic criteria. However, many universities and colleges use the terms fairly interchangeably.
How much will I get?
This depends on your university or college and your household income. If you’re starting your studies in 2009-10, you will get at least £319 a year (often referred to as the ‘minimum bursary’) if you:
- get the full Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant and
- are being charged the full tuition fee by an English university.
You could get much more. Many universities and colleges will also give you a bursary if you’re eligible for some of the Maintenance Grant or Special Support Grant and some give a bursary to everyone, regardless of household income. On average, a student starting in 2009 and receiving the full Maintenance Grant can expect to receive a bursary of just over £900 a year.
How can I find out what different universities are offering?
There are various ways to find out what different universities are offering. A good place to start is the Student Finance Calculator on Student Finance England. For comprehensive information about what’s on offer, check out individual university and college websites. Bursary and scholarship information will usually be on the ‘Fees and Funding’ , ‘Student Finance’ or other similarly named page. The Directgov bursary map is a quick way of going direct to university and college bursary information web pages.
How do I claim a bursary?
If you haven’t received a bursary and you think you are eligible, contact the student finance office at your university or college.
It’s worth claiming a bursary, even if you are only eligible for a small amount each year. It could go a good way towards covering your travel to and from uni, or could help you buy more text books. Here’s how to claim:
- in most cases, all you need to do to claim a bursary is make sure you agree to share your personal and financial information with your university or college when you fill in your Student Finance Application Form for government loans and grants. Your university or college will then use a service run by the Student Loans Company to pay your bursary straight into your bank account. If you or your parents have accidentally ticked the box under the Student’s Declaration or Parents’ Declaration refusing to share your personal details and you want to change this, contact the appropriate Student Loans Company number below:
- English students – 0845 300 50 90
- Welsh students – 0845 602 88 45
- Northern Ireland students – 0845 600 06 62.
- some universities and colleges handle their own bursary payments. They will let you know what the process is for claiming a bursary. Often, this will simply be a case of giving them your bank details and a copy of your Student Support Notification (showing the loans and grants you will receive from Student Finance England) when you register.
When will my bursary be paid?
Individual universities and colleges choose when to make their bursary payments. Some will pay you a lump sum in your first term while others stagger their payments.
Do I need to reapply for my bursary each year?
You need to apply for your bursary on an annual basis. So make sure you and your parents continue to consent to share your financial information with your university/college when you fill in your Student Finance Application Form each year.