Hundreds of financial support packages worth up to thousands of pounds can be claimed by students to cover tuition or living expenses at university or college amid rising costs of living – yet many are unaware they are eligible to apply.
UCAS has launched a new online tool that pulls together nearly 800 scholarships, bursaries and grants all in one place on the UCAS website for the first time, after its research found that low awareness of funding opportunities may be adding to financial uncertainty for prospective students.
The new research revealed that more than a quarter (29%) of students starting university or college this autumn said they were unsure or unprepared to manage their day-to-day finances. UCAS found that only one in five students said they felt very prepared. Many called for clearer advice earlier in the application process, particularly on scholarships and bursaries.
The cost of living has increasingly shaped student decisions this cycle. Pre-applicants said financial support ranked as the second most important consideration for them (46%), demonstrating the importance of easy access to scholarships and bursaries, followed closely by universities’ specific cost-of-living support (34%).
The scholarships tool enables applicants to easily check what is on offer at universities and colleges across the country. Awards can range from £500 to full tuition fees for both UK and international applicants, and can also cover the cost of accommodation, meals and travel.
Students using the tool can search for awards matched to their background, achievements or chosen course. Some of these offer extra benefits such as internships, networking or accommodation discounts.
UCAS hopes the tool will help widen access to higher education by connecting students to extra sources of financial support, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, while reducing feelings of uncertainty around costs.
Dr Jo Saxton CBE, Chief Executive of UCAS, said:
“Every student should have the chance to pursue their ambitions without barriers holding them back. By connecting students to the scholarships, bursaries and grants that universities and colleges offer, UCAS aims to make it easier for applicants, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, to find and explore financial support that could be available to them.
“I’m committed to opening doors of opportunity for all those who could benefit from higher education. This new tool is aimed to help make university or college a reality for students who may have thought pursuing an undergraduate degree was out of reach due to financial barriers.”
Professor Robert Van de Noort, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Reading, which has been named the Times and Sunday Times University of the Year for Scholarships and Bursaries 2026, said:
“There are many scholarships on offer that reduce the cost of study, and I am glad to see that UCAS is streamlining information to make it easier to find scholarship details. There is a growing range available, such as our expanded sustainability scholarships scheme, which provides generous financial support as well as helping to train the sustainability leaders of the future across all academic subjects.”
Teachers and advisers can also use the tool to find funding options tailored to their students’ needs, without having to search across multiple university websites.
Jon Jones, Director of Education, The White Horse Federation, said:
“We are seeing more students than ever asking about financial support or changing their ambitions for university due to lack of scholarship, and it’s clear that visibility matters. When scholarships are easy to find, it removes barriers, particularly for families experiencing disadvantage, giving every child the confidence to pursue their ambitions. This isn’t just about funding – it’s about fairness and opportunity.”
Summer Turner, Deputy CEO, Broad Horizons Education Trust, said:
“Our schools are built on the idea of opportunity for all which includes the ambition for all young people to have the chance to attend a university of their choice. At a time when school leaders tell us that financial pressures are driving decisions for many of our young people, we welcome better access to bursaries. Your financial context should never be a barrier to your future.”
Explore scholarships, bursaries and grants
ENDS
Students share how scholarships and bursaries transformed their path to higher education
Haris Shahid, 23, who is studying Primary Education at the University of Hertfordshire, was awarded the Pendleton Scholarship
He receives £1,000 each year of his three-year undergraduate course and says the funding helps cover commuting costs from his home in Luton.
Haris said: “I applied for the scholarship as I hoped it would relieve the financial pressure of my studies. When I received the message to say I’d got it, it was such an amazing opportunity for me.
“Having the scholarship has made it easier to cover my car insurance and helps with day-to-day travel costs as I have quite a long journey, it can take me 40 minutes to an hour to get to uni. It also means I don’t have to worry about the cost of parking.
“Seeing a scholarship linked to the course I wanted to study was definitely a factor in applying to the university, it made it even more enticing to go there.”
Haris said receiving the scholarship inspired him to ‘pay it forward’ by taking part in a run to raise funds for Friends of Bright Eyes, a charity in Luton supporting children with special needs and disabilities. It was a full-circle moment for Haris as he realised he wanted to become a primary school teacher while volunteering on a gap year with the charity before applying to university.
Caitlin Barrow, 18, studying Educational Psychology at Edge Hill University, earned the Sport Scholarship for Applicants, Bronze Award
She is a talented athlete, currently playing with St Helens Rugby League Football Club’s U19s Academy, and benefits from personal training, coaching and umpiring courses as part of the scholarship award.
Caitlin, from St Helens, said: “I looked the scholarship up on the off chance, as gym memberships are going up and I wanted to see what facilities I could use.
“With my scholarship, I get free gym membership as well as a sports psychologist, a nutritionist and a personal trainer, which is really great as they help me with the training programme from my rugby club. I also get £250 which I want to put towards new trainers and towards my umpiring assessment as well. It’s all cost that I no longer have to worry about as everything is covered for me.
“I would love to play professional rugby and the sports facilities at Edge Hill are amazing, so it’ll really help me develop. It means I can also represent the university in sport and umpiring so it’s kind of a hand-in-hand relationship. I’m chuffed to bits having this opportunity.”
Charlotte Painter, 22, studying Law at Aberystwyth University, was awarded the Academic Excellence Award and the Aberystwyth University Scholarship (Exam Based)
The Academic Excellence Award, provided £2,000 in her first year, and the Aberystwyth University Scholarship (Exam Based), offered £1,000 each year of her three-year degree along with an unconditional offer.
Charlotte, from Monmouth, said: “I was blown away when I found out I’d received both scholarships. For me, it made university feel more achievable. I was really nervous coming from a background where I did have financial hardship which was difficult. I worked all the way through my A Levels and when I was looking at universities to apply to, I was also looking at jobs nearby, as I knew my family couldn’t support me financially.
“To have this extra support behind me has made a massive difference, it was a huge relief. It’s gone towards my rent and other costs such as textbooks and food.
“I’d encourage anyone else in my situation to do their research and apply, even if it feels like a long shot. I knew I wanted to be a solicitor and my experience at Aberystwyth has been incredible, I’m really enjoying it.”
Tara Cochran, 46, who studied Photography at the University of South Wales, received the £1,000 Progression Bursary
She is now studying a postgraduate degree in Arts, Health and Wellbeing.
Tara, from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, said: “I did two years of study at Coleg y Cymoedd and then I received the grant to finish my third year at the university. It was a great help for me as I was able to buy two lenses for my camera that I wouldn’t have been able to afford on my own.
“For students to have access to this type of funding, it’s so important, especially if they come from deprived areas. You might think you can’t afford to go to university but if you know that you might be able to get extra funding, it really gives you encouragement to apply.
“I was in shock when the university told me about this bursary, it was amazing. You do get to try all the different cameras and lighting which you can loan from the uni but having my own kit has been extremely beneficial.”
Notes to editors
The findings are from the 2025 UCAS End of Cycle Placed Student survey. Students were asked how prepared or unprepared they felt about managing their day-to-day finances at university. There were 4,916 respondents: 20% said they were extremely prepared, 50% said they were somewhat prepared, 14% said they were neither prepared or unprepared, 12% said they were somewhat unprepared and 3% said they were extremely unprepared.