What are: Scholarships and bursaries
Scholarships and bursaries are amounts of money given to a student to help them with their studies. Scholarships are usually larger amounts of money that can be used to pay for things like tuition fees, bursaries are sometimes smaller, but can often be used as financial support as you study. There are thousands of different scholarships and bursaries, all for different amounts of money, and awarded for different reasons. The good thing about them is that unlike student loans they don’t have to be paid back
What are they awarded for?
Most scholarships are awarded for academic excellence, for instance being very good at a particular subject or doing very well in your exams. However not all scholarships are awarded for this, some are given to students who have grown up in a particular area, or are interested in particular subjects. Bursaries are awarded for lots of different things, the Merchant Venturers Bursary is awarded to students from Bristol to ‘individuals who combine a passion for engineering with an aptitude for enterprise.’, whilst the Leverhulme Trust Undergraduate Bursary is awarded to the son, daughter, widow or widower of a grocer, chemist or travelling salesman!
How do I find out if I am eligible for a scholarship?
The place to start is thescholarshiphub this lists most (but not all!) of the scholarships available in the UK, listing the requirements and giving details of the application process. Most universities will list details of scholarships and bursaries on their websites so it is worth doing some research around what might be available to you. Your careers advisor should also know about any scholarships that are available in your area.
How do I apply?
Because scholarships and bursaries are awarded for so many different reasons there is no one set application process. It usually involves completing a form of your details, as well as a section explaining why you are a good candidate to receive the award. Make sure you look into scholarships and bursaries early, and familiarise yourself with the process for any that you would like to apply for.
