Student Bursary & Scholarship Sources
By Jake Butler in Student Money
There are a huge number of bursaries and scholarships available to students out there. Navigating the mine field of resources can be an extremely daunting and drawn out process.
To find some bursaries and scholarships you could spend hours checking databases. That’s why we have done all the hard work for you and compiled a list of bursary and scholarship organisations to make your search hassle free.
The sources for student funding can range from charities to businesses and even the colleges and universities themselves. It’s out there for students who need extra finances but the funding can be hard to find. Also, you need to be aware that it is a long drawn process applying for this funding.
It is important to note at this point that a bursary or scholarship/award is a different form of funding from a grant. A grant is a sum of money given to you by the government to help with the cost of studying during your time at university. A bursary or scholarship is extra money and finance that your university or college can offer.
- Where to search for a bursary or scholarship
- Organisations that offer financial aid
- How to apply for bursaries, scholarships & awards
If you are looking for the grants on offer to you from the government and the student finance company then be sure to take a look at our student grants article.
You can get a bursary for coming from a low income family or excelling in a certain sport plus much more. Below is a list of the resources where you can start your search for finance. The first list contains places where you can search for funding and the second list is a quick example of a few funding institutions that you might find.
Where to search for a bursary or scholarship
Student Cash Point
This is one of the best places to look for funding sources for university. It is free to use and has information on all the grants, scholarships, loans bursaries and awards. They match up your details and then see what funding you may be eligible for from a number of sources.
There is literally millions of pounds out there for students to claim.
Search here: www.studentcashpoint.co.uk
The Educational Grants Service (EGS)
This is a great place to look for grants, bursaries and scholarships. The educational grants service has over 30 charities and a large database of national trusts that support students throughout university with their finances. The best thing about the EGS is that it’s simple to search. All you have to do is fill in your details and they will match you to the charities that are most applicable to you.
The service is available for pretty much anybody going to university so fingers crossed that you meet the criteria of one of the charities.
Search here: www.tinyurl.com/edgrants
The Scholarship Search
If you are looking for a scholarship then this is most probably the best place to look. £250 million of scholarships and grants are on offer to students annually. Almost every student has the possibility of being eligible so it is well worth having a search.
Search here: www.scholarship-search.org.uk
Turn 2 Us
This is yet another website with a lot of charities listed that give funds to students. Be aware that some of the charities on this site don’t offer students funding. Some of them tend to be for other personal situations such as disability or children.
Search here: www.turn2us.org.uk
Guide Star
The Guide Star website has details of thousands of local and national charities that are looking to help fund students throughout university. Our top tip is to run a search with the keyword “student” and then tick the “grant maker” box which will give you a list of the charities to take a look at.
Search here: www.guidestar.org.uk
British Council Guide to Scholarships
This website is for international students who are looking to study in the UK. There are a lot of scholarships on offer for this type of student.
Take a look at what is on offer in terms of these student scholarships.
Search here: www.educationuk.org/scholarships
Your University
If you are applying to universities then it’s worth doing a quick search for any finance assistance they offer. If there is nothing on the university website itself then it’s well worth calling up to inquire about any bursaries, scholarships or awards they may have. Someone will be more than happy to direct you in the right direction.
Search here: You universities website
Now that you know where to search for a bursary or scholarship for university, you may be interested in some of the funding charities and their conditions for giving money. This is not an exhaustive list but it will give you a quick idea of what most charities are looking for in a candidate and how much they offer.
Organisations that give bursaries and scholarships
It is important to note at this point that these charities and trusts are very niche. You must be aware that this money is not on offer to anyone and you must have a good enough reason to need the financial help.
The trusts and charities below are just an example of what you may find if you are searching yourself so be aware that there are plenty more sources out there.
The Alfred Bourne Trust
This funding is on offer to students under the age of 30 and the funding goes up to £350.
Apply here.
Mynshull’s Educational Foundation
This grant is available for students under the age of 25 who are studying in Greater Manchester. They could cover small expenses such as textbooks and travel.
Call 0161 8346069.
Student Disability Assistance Fund
This fund is there and offers extra on top of the disability grant. You must be in full-time education to be eligible for this funding and you could then receive up to £500. You have to apply to the disabled student allowance before applying for this fund.
Apply here.
Gilchrist Educational Trust
This trust is almost similar to the access learning fund in that you can take out a grant during term time to help you complete your degree if you are in financial difficulty.
Apply here.
The Emerson Educational Trust for Middleton
This is a good example of a locational based bursary. To be eligible for this you need to live in Middleton or attended a school in the area during the time of your university application. This is part of Middleton’s scheme to promote the area and build the economy.
Apply here.
The Savoy Educational Trust
If you are taking a hospital or medical related degree then this could be of use to you. You could receive up to £500 to help pay towards fees or equipment, such as your uniform and tools.
Apply here.
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
This scholarship scheme does pretty much what it says on the tin. If you are a professional athlete then they are looking for people like you to get involved in the talented athlete scholarship scheme. You could receive support and services to the value of around £10,000 which is amazing.
Apply here.
Bank of England Sponsorship
This is an example of when a private company will offer to help you out through university. The bank of England offers a sponsorship scheme to students who are looking to undertake postgraduate study in economics or finance.
Apply here.
It is important to remember that this is just a small number of bursaries, scholarships & awards on offer to students. If you take some time to do the searching then you may find that you are entitled to some money that you didn’t even know about. The next stage is to think about applying, which isn’t as straight forward as you may think.
How to apply for a bursary, scholarship or award
Once you have found a source of funding that you want to apply for, the next stage is to get into contact with the specific charity, trust or private organisation. If you are what they are looking for and you fit their criteria then they will send you an application form.
You may be asked to write a letter with some key details so that they can get a better idea of you. This could include:
- Age
- Place of birth
- Course name
- An explanation of your financial difficulties
- How much money you require
If you are approved by the organisation or charity then the money will no doubt be of help to you. Good luck!
This article is all about help with getting funding and student finance but remember to check the website for even more ways to make your money go further.
Last updated 12th April, 2012
