Scholarships vs Bursaries: What Is the Difference?

Scholarships and bursaries can provide valuable extra money for university. Unlike student loans, they do not usually need to be repaid.

The two terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but there is a broad difference:

• A scholarship is usually awarded for achievement, ability or potential.

• A bursary is usually awarded according to financial need or personal circumstances.

That distinction is not absolute. Each university and funding organisation sets its own eligibility rules, award values and application process. You should always read the individual scheme’s terms rather than relying only on whether it is called a scholarship or a bursary.

This guide explains:

• The difference between scholarships and bursaries

• Who can qualify

• How much support may be available

• Whether the money must be repaid

• How applications work

• Where to find funding

• How to improve a competitive application

Scholarships vs Bursaries at a Glance

Scholarship	Bursary
Usually based on achievement, talent or potential	Usually based on financial need or personal circumstances
Often competitive	Often awarded to everyone who meets the criteria
Usually requires a separate application	May be awarded automatically
May require a written statement, portfolio, audition or interview	May require household-income or personal-circumstances evidence
May be linked to a subject, sport or activity	May support students from underrepresented or disadvantaged backgrounds
May include mentoring, placements or networking	Usually focuses on financial support
Does not usually need to be repaid	Does not usually need to be repaid

These are general patterns rather than fixed definitions. An award called a scholarship could be income-based, while an award called a bursary could consider grades or other achievements. UCAS notes that the terms are sometimes used interchangeably and that providers set different rules.

What Is a University Scholarship?

A scholarship is a financial award that is usually linked to achievement, talent, potential or a particular area of study.

Scholarships may be awarded for:

• Strong academic results

• Outstanding predicted grades

• Sporting ability

• Musical or artistic talent

• Leadership

• Volunteering or community involvement

• Entrepreneurial achievement

• Achievement in a particular subject

• Potential to contribute to university life

• Progression into a particular profession

• Belonging to an underrepresented group

• A combination of merit and financial need

Some scholarships are extremely competitive. Others are awarded automatically to every applicant who achieves specified grades or meets another published condition.

A scholarship might be worth a few hundred pounds, several thousand pounds or, in rarer cases, the full cost of tuition or accommodation. Some awards also include non-financial benefits such as internships, mentoring, networking, equipment or accommodation discounts.

What Is a University Bursary?

A bursary is usually designed to help students who may face financial or personal barriers to higher education.

Eligibility may be based on:

• Household income

• Being care experienced

• Being permanently estranged from parents

• Having caring responsibilities

• Being a young adult carer

• Having children or adult dependants

• Having refugee or humanitarian protection status

• Coming from an area with low participation in higher education

• Being the first person in the family to attend university

• Receiving certain benefits

• Experiencing homelessness

• Having additional financial needs

• Belonging to a group underrepresented at the university

Bursaries may help universities widen access and ensure that students who meet the entry requirements are not prevented from attending by financial circumstances.

Many university bursaries are awarded automatically using information from the student finance assessment. However, specialist bursaries, including some awards for care-experienced or estranged students, may require a separate application or direct contact with the university.

What Is the Main Difference Between a Scholarship and a Bursary?

The main difference is normally the reason the money is awarded.

Scholarships usually reward something

This might include:

• Academic performance

• Sporting achievement

• Musical talent

• Leadership

• A strong application

• Potential in a particular profession

Bursaries usually respond to a need or circumstance

This might include:

• Low household income

• Care experience

• Estrangement

• Caring responsibilities

• Financial hardship

• An underrepresented background

However, some awards combine both elements.

For example, a university might offer an academic scholarship only to students from households below a particular income. Another university might offer an “access scholarship” based entirely on financial circumstances.

The name is less important than the eligibility criteria.

What Is a Grant?

A grant is another form of funding that does not usually need to be repaid.

The term is often used for financial support offered by:

• The government

• A student finance organisation

• A university

• A charity

• A professional body

• A research organisation

• An employer

Grants are commonly based on personal circumstances or a particular financial need.

Examples of government support for eligible English students include:

• Disabled Students’ Allowance

• Childcare Grant

• Parents’ Learning Allowance

• Adult Dependants’ Grant

• Travel grants

• NHS-related support

• Social work bursaries

• Teacher-training funding

The support available depends on where you normally live, your course and your circumstances. Government guidance confirms that extra support for low-income students, disabled students, students with children and students on particular professional courses does not usually need to be repaid.

What Is a Hardship Fund?

A hardship fund provides emergency or short-term support to students who are experiencing serious financial difficulty.

It is different from a standard bursary because it normally responds to an immediate financial problem rather than being awarded routinely at the beginning of a course.

You may be considered for hardship funding if you are struggling with costs such as:

• Rent

• Food

• Energy bills

• Essential travel

• Childcare

• Emergency accommodation

• Necessary equipment

• Unexpected medical or personal expenses

Your university may ask for bank statements, a budget, evidence of income and an explanation of what has happened.

Hardship support may be paid as a grant, an emergency payment or, in some cases, a repayable loan. The university decides the amount, payment method and eligibility rules.

Do not wait until you have missed several rent payments before asking for help. Contact the university’s student support or money advice team as soon as you realise that your finances are becoming unmanageable.

Do Scholarships and Bursaries Need to Be Repaid?

Scholarships and bursaries do not usually need to be repaid.

However, you could be required to return some or all of an award if you:

• Withdraw from your course

• Suspend your studies

• Transfer to an ineligible course

• Fail to enrol

• Stop meeting the eligibility conditions

• Receive an award based on incorrect information

• Are paid more than you were entitled to receive

• Do not complete an activity attached to the award

• Fail to maintain a required standard of attendance or achievement

Always read the terms and conditions before accepting an award.

Check:

• How long the award lasts

• Whether it is guaranteed for every year

• Whether you must reapply

• Whether minimum grades must be maintained

• Whether attendance is monitored

• What happens if you change course

• What happens if you repeat a year

• Whether the award can be combined with other funding

Government guidance states that university bursaries, scholarships and awards are normally paid directly to the student and do not usually need to be repaid.

Are Scholarships and Bursaries Separate from Student Finance?

They are usually awarded in addition to standard student finance.

This means you may be able to receive:

• A Tuition Fee Loan

• A Maintenance Loan

• A university bursary

• One or more scholarships

• Additional government grants

at the same time.

However, each scheme has its own rules. Some awards cannot be combined with particular scholarships or bursaries. A university may give you the highest-value award for which you qualify rather than allowing you to collect several similar awards. UCAS advises students to check whether individual awards can be combined, as policies differ between universities.

Read Student Finance Explained [Student Finance Explained] for a complete guide to loans and additional support.

Will a Scholarship or Bursary Reduce Your Maintenance Loan?

A university scholarship or bursary will not normally replace your Maintenance Loan entitlement. These awards are generally offered as additional support on top of standard student finance.

However, funding can sometimes affect:

• Means-tested benefits

• Other bursaries

• Hardship-fund assessments

• Sponsorship arrangements

• Funding from charities

• International visa financial evidence

Government guidance states that university funding is not usually counted as income for benefit entitlement unless it is provided for day-to-day living costs. Individual benefit and funding rules can be complicated, so seek specialist advice if you receive Universal Credit or another means-tested benefit.

How Much Are Scholarships and Bursaries Worth?

There is no standard amount.

An award might provide:

• A one-off payment

• A payment each term

• An annual payment

• A tuition fee reduction

• Free or discounted accommodation

• Money for equipment

• Travel support

• Free meals

• A laptop or specialist software

• Funding for a placement

• Funding for study abroad

• Professional mentoring

Values can range from relatively small contributions to full tuition-fee or living-cost packages. The UCAS funding search includes awards ranging from hundreds of pounds to full tuition fees, with some also covering accommodation, meals or travel.

A smaller award can still make a significant difference. A £500 scholarship could pay for:

• A laptop contribution

• Several months of travel

• Essential course books

• Professional clothing

• Fieldwork expenses

• A deposit for accommodation

Do not ignore an opportunity simply because it will not cover the full cost of university.

Who Offers Scholarships and Bursaries?

Funding may be available from:

• Universities and colleges

• Government departments

• Student finance organisations

• Charities

• Charitable trusts

• Professional associations

• Employers

• Industry bodies

• Sports organisations

• Arts organisations

• Local authorities

• Community foundations

• Religious or cultural organisations

• Trade and livery organisations

• Educational foundations

• Alumni donors

There is no single application covering every scholarship and bursary. UCAS explains that awards are offered by many different providers, with different criteria and application processes.

This means good research matters. You may need to search several sources rather than relying only on your chosen university’s main finance page.

Common Types of University Scholarship

Academic scholarships

These reward strong academic performance.

Eligibility might be based on:

• A-Level grades

• Equivalent qualifications

• Admissions test scores

• Previous degree results

• Performance during the university course

Some are automatic, while others require a competitive application.

Subject scholarships

These are linked to a particular course or department.

They may aim to:

• Attract high-achieving applicants

• Encourage applications to shortage subjects

• Increase participation from underrepresented groups

• Support expensive placements or equipment

• Develop future professionals

Subject funding may be available in areas such as engineering, technology, healthcare, languages, music, teaching or the creative arts.

Sports scholarships

Sports scholarships support students competing at a high level.

They may include:

• Financial awards

• Coaching

• Strength and conditioning

• Physiotherapy

• Competition expenses

• Gym access

• Flexible academic support

The university will normally specify the required competition level and recognised sports.

Music and performing arts scholarships

These may be available to students who can contribute to university choirs, orchestras, theatre groups or other ensembles.

Applicants may need to provide:

• An audition

• A portfolio

• Evidence of qualifications

• Details of performances

• A reference

The scholarship may be open to students studying any subject, not only music or drama.

Community and leadership scholarships

These may reward:

• Volunteering

• Youth leadership

• Social action

• Community projects

• Fundraising

• Advocacy

• Entrepreneurship

Applicants usually need to explain their contribution and how they intend to continue it at university.

Career and industry scholarships

Employers and professional bodies may provide support for students entering a particular career.

Funding might be accompanied by:

• Work experience

• A summer placement

• Mentoring

• Networking

• A graduate interview

• Membership of a professional organisation

Read the terms carefully. Some sponsored awards may create obligations relating to placements, reporting or future employment.

Common Types of University Bursary

Low-income bursaries

These are normally based on assessed household income.

Some universities award them automatically after receiving financial information from the relevant student finance organisation. To allow this, the student and their household sponsor may need to consent to their information being shared with the university. UCAS states that many university bursaries are assessed automatically through this process.

Care-leaver bursaries

Universities may offer additional support to students who have been in local-authority care.

Support could include:

• Annual bursary payments

• Year-round accommodation

• Graduation support

• Priority access to hardship funding

• A named adviser

• Help with deposits or moving costs

The university may require evidence from a local authority or another recognised professional.

Estranged-student bursaries

These support students who have permanently lost contact with their parents.

The university may use evidence already supplied to the student finance organisation or request separate documentation.

Students should contact the university directly because estrangement support is not always awarded automatically.

Young adult carer bursaries

Some universities provide funding for students who care for a family member or another dependent person.

Evidence may be required from:

• A school or college

• A doctor

• A carers’ organisation

• A local authority

• A support worker

Refugee and sanctuary scholarships

Universities may offer tuition fee reductions, bursaries or full scholarships to eligible refugees, asylum seekers and students with particular humanitarian statuses.

The immigration-status requirements can be very specific. Check exactly which documentation is accepted and whether the award covers tuition fees, living costs or both.

First-generation and widening-participation bursaries

These may support students who are the first in their immediate family to enter higher education or who meet other widening-participation criteria.

The assessment may also consider:

• Home postcode

• School attended

• Household income

• Free school meal eligibility

• Care experience

• Local higher education participation rates

Do not assume that “first generation” means exactly the same thing at every university. Read the provider’s definition.

How Do You Find Scholarships and Bursaries?

Search each university’s website

Look for pages called:

• Scholarships and bursaries

• Undergraduate funding

• Fees and funding

• Financial support

• Widening participation

• Student money advice

• Departmental scholarships

Check the central university page and the page for your academic department. Subject-specific funding may not appear in the main list.

Use the UCAS funding search

UCAS provides a dedicated search covering scholarships, bursaries and grants. Students can explore awards linked to their background, achievements or intended course.

Search professional bodies

Look for organisations connected with your intended career.

For example, an engineering, law, accountancy, healthcare or construction body may offer:

• Scholarships

• Travel grants

• Placement funding

• Equipment support

• Professional mentoring

Search charities and trusts

Charitable trusts may support students according to:

• Place of birth or residence

• Family occupation

• Religion or community

• Subject

• Career intention

• Disability

• Financial need

• Personal circumstances

Government guidance directs students to charitable grant searches as another potential source of funding.

Ask your school or college

Teachers, careers advisers and sixth-form teams may know about:

• Local awards

• Alumni scholarships

• Community funding

• Employer schemes

• Subject competitions

• Opportunities offered by partner universities

Contact the university

University student support teams can explain:

• Which bursaries are automatic

• Which awards need an application

• Which evidence is required

• Whether awards can be combined

• When payments are made

Each provider controls its own scholarship and bursary rules, so direct confirmation is often the safest approach.

When Should You Start Looking?

Begin researching funding while you are choosing universities.

Do not wait until you have accepted an offer or arrived on campus.

Some scholarship deadlines:

• Fall before the main UCAS deadline

• Close before you receive your exam results

• Require an offer from the university

• Require an application before enrolment

• Remain open only while funding is available

Create a simple funding tracker containing:

Award	Provider	Value	Eligibility	Deadline	Application required?	Status
Example scholarship	University	£1,000	AAA grades	1 May	Yes	Researching
Example bursary	University	£1,500	Income below threshold	Automatic	No	Eligible

Check the closing date on the provider’s own website before applying. Third-party listings can become outdated.

Do You Need to Apply for a Bursary?

Not always.

Many low-income university bursaries are awarded automatically after:

1. You apply for means-tested student finance.

2. Your household provides the required financial information.

3. You consent to share that information with the university.

4. You enrol on an eligible course.

5. The university confirms that you meet its criteria.

Other bursaries require a separate application.

A separate application is more likely for funding linked to:

• Care experience

• Estrangement

• Caring responsibilities

• Refugee status

• Specific regional criteria

• A profession or industry

• Exceptional financial circumstances

UCAS advises applying for bursaries alongside student finance and notes that universities often confirm automatic awards after enrolment, commonly between September and November.

Do You Need to Apply for a Scholarship?

Usually, although some academic scholarships are automatic.

A competitive scholarship application may require:

• An application form

• A written statement

• Academic transcripts

• Predicted or achieved grades

• A teacher or employer reference

• Evidence of achievements

• A portfolio

• An audition

• An interview

• Proof of household income

• Evidence of nationality or residence

Read every question carefully. A strong general personal statement may still need substantial changes to answer the scholarship’s specific criteria.

How to Write a Strong Scholarship Application

1. Answer the exact question

Do not send a generic essay about why you want to attend university.

Identify what the provider is assessing. This might be:

• Academic ability

• Leadership

• Commitment to a profession

• Community impact

• Financial need

• Future potential

Build every paragraph around that criterion.

2. Use specific evidence

Avoid vague statements such as:

I am hardworking and passionate about science.

A stronger answer explains what you did:

I organised weekly science revision sessions for six Year 11 students, creating topic quizzes and adapting explanations after each session.

Specific evidence makes your claim more credible.

3. Explain the impact

Do not merely list activities.

Explain:

• What you contributed

• What changed

• What you learned

• Why it matters

• How it connects with the scholarship

4. Explain how the funding would help

Be practical and honest.

The award might allow you to:

• Choose suitable accommodation

• Reduce working hours

• Buy essential equipment

• Attend placements

• Pay for travel

• Take part in unpaid opportunities

• Focus more consistently on your studies

5. Tailor every application

Providers can usually recognise a generic statement that has been reused without editing.

UCAS recommends tailoring each application to the award’s requirements, using authentic evidence and checking that all required documents are included.

6. Ask someone to review it

A teacher, adviser or mentor can help identify:

• Missing evidence

• Unclear sentences

• Repetition

• Spelling errors

• Claims that need explanation

• Questions you have not fully answered

7. Submit early

Technical problems, missing references and document-upload issues are considerably less dramatic when discovered three days before the deadline rather than three minutes before it.

What Evidence Might You Need?

Depending on the award, you may need:

• Student finance entitlement letter

• Household-income evidence

• Proof of benefits

• Academic certificates

• Predicted grades

• Passport or residency documents

• Care-leaver evidence

• Estrangement evidence

• Carer-status confirmation

• Disability evidence

• Sporting records

• Music qualifications

• A portfolio

• References

• Bank statements

• A personal budget

Only provide sensitive documents through the provider’s official application system or another verified process.

Do not email bank statements, identity documents or financial information to an unverified address.

Can You Receive More Than One Scholarship or Bursary?

Sometimes.

A university may allow you to receive:

• A bursary and a scholarship

• Several small scholarships

• University funding alongside an external award

However, some providers:

• Do not allow two bursaries to be combined

• Replace a smaller award with a larger one

• Reduce an award when you receive other funding

• Require you to declare every additional award

UCAS notes that some universities allow scholarships and bursaries to be combined, while others restrict multiple awards.

Never assume that receiving one award automatically disqualifies you from another. Equally, never conceal other funding when the application asks you to declare it.

Are Scholarships Guaranteed for Every Year?

Not necessarily.

An award may be:

• A one-off payment

• Renewable each year

• Guaranteed for the normal length of the course

• Reassessed annually

• Dependent on satisfactory academic progress

• Dependent on continued financial eligibility

• Available only in the first year

Check whether you must:

• Reapply

• Maintain a particular average

• Complete annual reports

• Attend events

• Act as a university ambassador

• Continue competing in a sport

• Remain on the same course

• Continue meeting household-income criteria

Do not calculate a three-year university budget using a scholarship unless the terms confirm that it will continue.

When Are Scholarships and Bursaries Paid?

Payments may be made:

• Before the course begins

• After enrolment

• At the start of each term

• In one annual instalment

• Monthly

• Directly towards tuition fees

• As an accommodation discount

• After evidence has been confirmed

University bursaries assessed through student finance may not be confirmed until after enrolment. UCAS advises that students can commonly expect confirmation between September and November, although individual universities set their own schedules.

Do not rely on a bursary to pay a deposit or early rent instalment unless you know it will arrive in time.

Read How to Apply for Student Finance [How to Apply for Student Finance] and Budgeting for Students [Budgeting for Students] when planning your first term.

Scholarships and Bursaries for International Students

International students may be eligible for:

• University international scholarships

• Country-specific awards

• Subject scholarships

• Postgraduate scholarships

• Government-funded programmes

• Alumni discounts

• Research studentships

• External sponsorship

However, eligibility can depend on:

• Nationality

• Country of residence

• Fee status

• Course level

• Subject

• Academic results

• Work experience

• Leadership experience

• Financial circumstances

International applicants may need to provide translated academic documents, identity or immigration evidence, references and proof that they meet the individual award criteria.

A scholarship may not cover the full amount required for tuition fees, accommodation and visa financial evidence. Check exactly what is included before accepting an offer.

How to Compare Scholarship Offers

Do not compare awards using the headline value alone.

Consider:

Question	Why it matters
Is it paid once or every year?	£1,000 annually may be worth more than a £2,000 one-off payment
Is it cash or a fee discount?	A fee reduction may not help with rent or food
Are there academic conditions?	The award may stop if your results fall
Can it be combined with a bursary?	Restrictions can change its real value
Does it include accommodation?	This could substantially reduce living costs
Are there extra benefits?	Mentoring or placements may add considerable value
Must you perform duties?	Ambassador or sporting commitments take time
What happens if you change course?	You may lose the award
Is it guaranteed?	Some funding is subject to annual review

A scholarship should be treated as one part of the university decision, not the only reason to choose a course that is otherwise unsuitable.

Scholarship and Bursary Scams

Be cautious if someone:

• Guarantees that you will receive funding

• Demands a large upfront application fee

• Requests payment to release an award

• Contacts you from an unofficial email address

• Pressures you to act immediately

• Requests bank login details

• Asks you to transfer money to a personal account

• Sends an unexpected link asking you to confirm financial details

• Claims to represent a university but cannot be verified

Students and university applicants are regularly targeted by financial scams. Official guidance warns that criminals may use convincing emails, text messages, websites and phone calls to obtain personal or banking information.

Before providing information:

1. Find the organisation’s official website independently.

2. Contact the university through its published telephone number.

3. Check the sender’s complete email address.

4. Do not use contact details contained in a suspicious message.

5. Never share passwords or full banking security information.

6. Ask a teacher, parent or adviser to review anything unusual.

Common Myths About Scholarships and Bursaries

“Scholarships are only for students with perfect grades”

Academic scholarships exist, but other awards recognise sport, music, leadership, volunteering, personal circumstances, career goals or subject choice.

“Bursaries are loans”

Bursaries do not usually need to be repaid. However, repayment may be required if you withdraw, become ineligible or were overpaid.

“You must choose between student finance and a bursary”

University bursaries are generally offered in addition to standard student finance, although individual award conditions must be checked.

“All bursaries are automatic”

Many income-based awards are automatic, but specialist bursaries may require an application and evidence.

“There is one national scholarship application”

Awards are offered by many different organisations, and there is no single application covering all of them.

“Small scholarships are not worth applying for”

Several smaller awards can cover essential costs such as equipment, transport, books or deposits.

“You can only apply before university”

Some awards are open to current students, including hardship support, departmental prizes and funding for placements or study abroad.

“If you were rejected once, you will never get funding”

Different awards assess different criteria. An unsuccessful application for one scholarship does not prevent you from applying elsewhere.

Scholarship and Bursary Checklist

While researching universities

• Check each university’s scholarships and bursaries page.

• Search the relevant academic department.

• Look for automatic and application-based awards.

• Check household-income thresholds.

• Research funding from professional bodies and charities.

• Record every deadline.

• Confirm whether awards can be combined.

• Check whether funding continues after the first year.

Before applying

• Read the full eligibility criteria.

• Gather evidence early.

• Request references in good time.

• Identify what the provider is assessing.

• Use specific examples.

• Tailor the application.

• Explain how the funding would help.

• Proofread every section.

• Submit before the deadline.

• Keep a copy of the application.

After receiving an award

• Read the terms and conditions.

• Check the payment schedule.

• Confirm whether you must reapply.

• Add the award to your university budget.

• Complete any required activities.

• Report relevant changes in circumstances.

• Keep evidence and payment records.

Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships and Bursaries

What is the difference between a scholarship and a bursary?

A scholarship is usually based on achievement, talent or potential. A bursary is usually based on financial need or personal circumstances. However, providers sometimes use the terms interchangeably.

Do scholarships need to be repaid?

Not usually. You may need to return the money if you withdraw, stop meeting the award conditions or received funding you were not entitled to receive.

Do bursaries need to be repaid?

Bursaries do not normally need to be repaid. Always check the individual terms.

Can you get a scholarship and a bursary?

Possibly. Some universities allow eligible students to receive both, while others restrict combinations of awards.

Does a bursary affect your student loan?

University bursaries are generally additional to Tuition Fee and Maintenance Loans. Check the specific rules if you receive benefits or other means-tested funding.

Do you apply for university bursaries through UCAS?

Usually not. Some are awarded automatically through shared student finance information, while others require an application directly to the university.

Do your parents have to repay a bursary?

No. The bursary is awarded to the student and does not usually need to be repaid by either the student or their parents.

Can you get a bursary if your parents do not support you financially?

Eligibility is normally based on the provider’s criteria rather than the amount your parents voluntarily contribute. Low-income, estranged-student or hardship support may be relevant depending on your circumstances.

Can international students receive scholarships?

Yes, some universities and external organisations offer international scholarships. Eligibility may depend on nationality, fee status, course and academic achievement.

Can mature students apply?

Yes. Some awards are open to students of any age, while others are specifically intended for mature learners, students with dependants or people returning to education.

What happens if you change university?

A university-funded scholarship or bursary will not normally transfer automatically to another institution. Check the terms before making a change.

Can you apply after starting university?

Yes. Universities may offer awards, hardship funds, travel grants, placement support and departmental funding to current students.

When should you apply?

Start researching before submitting your university choices. Some scholarships close months before courses begin.

Are scholarships taxable?

The tax treatment can depend on the nature of the payment and the student’s circumstances. Seek advice from the provider or HM Revenue and Customs if the award is connected with employment, services or research work.

What happens if you miss a deadline?

Contact the provider. Some deadlines are strict, but alternative funding or a later application round may be available.

Final Thoughts on Scholarships vs Bursaries

The broad difference is simple:

• Scholarships usually recognise achievement, talent or potential.

• Bursaries usually provide support based on financial need or personal circumstances.

In reality, award names and eligibility rules vary considerably. The most important information is always contained in the individual scheme’s criteria and terms.

Do not assume you are ineligible before checking. Search early, explore small as well as large awards and investigate both automatic bursaries and competitive scholarships.

Even a modest award can reduce the amount you need to earn from part-time work, make accommodation more affordable or help you access opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach.

Continue with Student Finance Explained [Student Finance Explained], Maintenance Loans Explained [Maintenance Loans Explained], Cost of Living at University [Cost of Living at University] and Budgeting for Students [Budgeting for Students].