What help is available?

Grants and awards

As well as student loans, it is important to know what other help is available to you in terms of grants or financial awards. These can vary depending on your chosen university or college and your personal circumstances. For more information about any of the support available, go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance, or you can contact student services at your chosen university.

Help from the government

  • Maintenance Grant: Maintenance Grants are available to students and are targeted at students from low-income families. The grants do not have to be repaid and eligible students are assessed on their or their parents' income. Grants are payable in three instalments - one at the start of each term. For 2008, the government has announced that the income levels at which full and partial grants are paid will be raised so many more students than before will receive a Maintenance Grant. Around one third of eligible students are expected to be entitled to a full Maintenance Grant of up to around £2,835. For more information go to www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.

  • Help for students in specific circumstances

    • Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance are available to students with children.
    • Adult Dependants' Grant is available to students who have an adult who depends on them financially.
    • Disabled Students' Allowances are available to help students with disabilities, mental health conditions, or specific learning difficulties.

    For more information on the above, go to the Specific help section.

Help from your university or college

  • Bursaries: mandatory bursaries are provided by English universities and colleges if they charge UK students the maximum tuition fee per year for a course. The minimum bursary for a student in receipt of full Maintenance Grant and paying full tuition fees must be at least £310 per year, but many universities are offering much more, and not just to these students. These bursaries do not have to be paid back. Health-related courses also offer some bursaries as explained below. Use Course Search to find out about specific bursaries for particular courses.

  • Scholarships: scholarships are grants given to students by institutions or another sponsoring body, such as a workplace. They differ from bursaries in the sense that bursaries are dependent on financial circumstance, whereas scholarships tend to be awarded on academic achievement.

  • Access to Learning Fund: This is available through universities and colleges and provides help for students in hardship who may need extra financial support for their course and to stay in higher education. Your institution will decide whether you are able to receive this help and, if so, how much you are entitled to. Payments are usually given as grants but may be given as short term loans.

Specific bursaries

  • National Health Service

    Students studying for a health-related degree or diploma may be eligible for a bursary supplied by the NHS. The amount you receive will be based on your eligibility and individual circumstances. In general terms, you must be accepted for an NHS funded course which leads to professional registration in a health related career.

    For more information, contact the university or college you wish to attend, or go to www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk.

  • Social Work

    Students studying for a social work degree in England may be eligible for a bursary. You must be studying on a General Social Care Council approved undergraduate or postgraduate course (full or part-time) and meet residence criteria. Details are available from the NHS Business Services Authority (NHS BSA) at www.ppa.nhs.uk/ppa/swb.htm or e-mail swb@ppa.nhs.uk.

Lesser known awards

  • Army Education Grant: if you are considering a career in the army after your degree, you may qualify for an education grant provided by the armed services. The scheme is open to UK passport holders who have studied or plan to study at an educational establishment in the UK, the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man or at any British Forces School outside of the UK. To find out if you qualify, go to www.armyjobs.mod.uk and click on 'Education'.

  • Industry Awards: a student attending university or college can be entered for an industry award by their lecturer. These awards are intended to raise the status of certain courses, such as science, engineering and technological degrees. Successful students can receive a trophy and a cheque. The amount differs from award to award.

  • Shortage Subjects: different forms of grants and subsidies have been provided to attract more students to particular subjects. One example is teacher training: postgraduate teacher training courses are paid for by the government in order to diminish students' concerns about paying another year of fees after a degree course. There is more financial support for certain subjects where there is a need for specialist teachers. For example, maths; design and technology; information and communications technology. You can apply for these grants through the university or college that will be providing the course.

  • Charity Funding: the Association of Charitable Foundations is primarily an information and support organisation for grant-making trusts and foundations in the UK. It does not provide grants itself and cannot give advice about individual applications, but it can provide useful links to possible sources. The website is www.acf.org.uk/trusts_applying.htm.