What university student will say no to free money? By not applying to the multiple scholarships out there, students are basically ignoring money that is easily accessible to them that could help them during the time they spend at university. Finances can be a sensitive subject and yet it’s something that affects a lot of students while they’re at university. Although a majority of students in the UK rely on Student Finance to support them while at university, many are probably not aware of the various scholarships they are eligible for.
In short, there are a lot of scholarships available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. You will need to research and find out what scholarships you are eligible for in advance. The criteria vary between each scholarship, and the amount that you will be given can depend on the type of scholarship that you receive.
If you would like to understand all the details of university scholarships, you should continue reading this article. Not only will scholarships be explained in depth for you, but we will point you to resources to do your own research.
What is a University Scholarship?
A university scholarship is money that is given to students by their university to help support those students financially during their time at university. It is non-repayable and there is normally a criterion that is required to be met before applying. The eligibility criteria may vary depending on the type of scholarship it is and it is normally rewarded based on academic achievements, for example maintaining a 2:1 or higher while at university.
Depending on the scholarship you are given, the money could be used to cover tuition fees, travel expenses, living costs or it could even contribute towards a research project for postgraduates. Although in the application for a scholarship it may ask what the money would be spent on specifically, the recipient of the scholarship is free to spend the money as they please – obviously using common sense!
Scholarships also can be funded by alumni; in this case the scholarship might even be named after them. For example, at King’s College London the Michael & Saki Ruth Dockrill Scholarship is named after a previous professor who were passionate about their subjects and wanted to give back to students.
What is the Difference Between a Bursary and a Scholarship?
A bursary and scholarship are names that tend to be used interchangeably as they are considered to be similar however there is quite a noticeable differences between the two.
A bursary is given to help support students financially however the circumstances surrounding them are slightly different: a bursary could be given based on financial need. In certain situations, it might not be necessary to apply for a bursary as when you apply for your Student Finance you should have consented to sharing the details with your university, then from there, your university would be able to evaluate whether your circumstance have met the eligibility criteria for any bursaries. Some criteria could include your household income being below a certain amount, living in a particular postcode and paying the full amount of tuition fees which currently in the UK for UK students is £9250 per year.
Bursaries are less competitive than scholarships as they are less likely to require formal application involving answering questions or explaining what you would do with the money, but it can vary in different universities. Some bursaries could also be given based on academic achievement like scholarships, and some bursaries are called ‘Awards’.
Why Should You Apply for a Scholarship?
Most people tend to think that scholarships are given exclusively based on you doing well academically but that isn’t always the case. You don’t need to have the best amazing academic record to apply for a scholarship. There are a range of scholarships with different eligibility criteria so all it can take a little bit of research to find one that your eligible for.
The whole point of a scholarship is to support students while at university and I’m sure every single university student would claim they need support and could do with some extra money. The money provided by a scholarship could make a significant difference to your life while at university and beyond; scholarships help to provide financial security. An example, if you had to have a part time job while at university because your student finance wasn’t enough and your parents may not be able to support you financially, a scholarship would be of use. Instead of working so hard it will give you more time focusing on your university work to get the best grade possible.
Although scholarships are competitive this should not deter you from applying because you can miss all the opportunities you never take. It’s better to take the chance and apply because what’s the worst that could happen? They may not decide to give you a scholarship but there are still numerous other scholarships out there, you could apply for, external scholarships outside of your university as well.
What Type of Scholarships are Available for Undergraduates?
There are certain scholarships that are available to students who are about to start their first year at university. In this case to qualify for a scholarship they may have to choose that university as their firm choice or insurance on UCAS. Winning the scholarship could also be dependent on your A level grades, for example achieving 3 A*’s or even ABB. This type of scholarship could also be for a specific subject, for example if you have an offer from a university to study Mathematics, there would be a specific scholarship available for students who are about to begin a degree that falls under the department of mathematics.
Some scholarships aim to support students from underrepresented backgrounds such as being from an Asian, Black, and minority ethnic background, even being a Gypsy or part of a traveller community, having a disability or being a carer for a member of your family. There are scholarships all about promoting diversity and inclusion because institutions recognise that not everyone may have the same upbringing so would not have access to the same level of resources as others, therefore they are willing to help and support students who fall into the above-mentioned categories.
There are some scholarships available that aim to support students who are doing an international placement year. These scholarships could be subject specific, for example it may only be available to students who study a subject in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or it could be a general scholarship available to students from different disciplines. With scholarships related to a placement year they tend to be for international placements for students who would work abroad, instead of UK based placements because working abroad comes with additional costs such as visas, passports, insurance, and travel expenses.
What Type of Scholarships are Available for Postgraduates?
Tuition fees for a postgraduate degree are significantly more expensive than an undergraduate degree as it could range anywhere from £5000 – £30,000 a year for UK students. On top of this they don’t typically get as much funding from Student Finance so have to look at other sources to fund their degree.
These scholarships are mainly based on academic excellence so to win it you would need to have graduated with at least a first class or 2:1 to even be considered and a certain number of credits may even be required. There is also a wide variety of these type of scholarships and every faculty is likely to have one.
As the area of STEM includes a lot of research, this results in countless opportunities for students who may want to go on to pursue a PhD. These scholarships cover a lot of expenses including tuition fees, living costs, travel costs and so much more. There are websites such as The Welcome Trust that shows several scholarships available for different courses, and you can look to see the specific university the course is in, then from there you apply directly to the programme. These scholarships are funded by charities who have made a large investment into the programme because they value the work and research that the student will be doing.
Postgraduate scholarships are very competitive as they are only available to a certain number of students each year, so it’s best to apply early and apply for a range of different ones in different universities.
Postgraduate Funding is another useful resource for postgraduates as it has over 800 scholarships available, you can search for scholarships by the name of your degree or university.
How Much is a Scholarship and How Long Does it Last for?
Scholarships can range anywhere from £1000 to £26,000 and maybe even more. The value of the scholarship does depend on what the scholarship is for, for example a postgraduate scholarship is likely to be significantly more than an undergraduate scholarship as the tuition fees for postgraduates are more expensive.
Some scholarships are given to cover living costs or travel expenses and the value of some scholarships are heavily dependent on your specific household income. This is why it’s so important to provide accurate details about your living situation so the scholarship provided can be best suited to you and support you in the best possible way.
Most scholarships are given at the start of the academic year, and are given annually. For example if a student won a scholarship of £1000, they would receive £1000 just before the start of the academic year every year while they are at university. So if they are on a 3 year course, in total they would receive £3000 from the scholarship. However if this student decided to do a placement year, depending on the terms and conditions of their scholarship, in most cases the scholarship might not cover the placement year so they would not receive £1000 in the year they are undertaking a placement year. But when they return to continue with their studies in their final year of university they will continue to receive the scholarship.
Some scholarships are given in instalments throughout the academic year. For example if a student won a scholarship of £8000, they might receive £4000 at the start of the academic year in September, then the remaining £4000 later on in February. But this is all dependent on the university and it can vary depending on the value of the scholarship.
How Do You Find a Scholarship?
The internet would be the best place to start looking for a scholarship. You should first go to your university website, look for the section about the money team, then there should be information about fees and funding. In this area of the website there would be information on the different scholarships and bursaries available that you can apply to. You just need to look at the eligibility criteria to see the ones you can apply for.
Keep an eye out for emails from your university. Most universities send their students numerous emails throughout the week related to any upcoming events happening within the university, surveys that need to be filled out, as well as some potential job opportunities. But your universities money team might also send you information about new scholarships that are available that you can apply to, in particular course specific scholarships that they would have sent specifically to students in your faculty.
Most students would have their own personal email address as well as their university email address, so it’s important to check your university inbox regularly, as well as the junk mail, just in case you missed an important email that could be detailing information about a potential scholarship that you could apply to. You would hate it if you missed out on some extra funding for your degree, all because you didn’t check your emails.
When Do You Apply for a Scholarship?
As most scholarships are given at the start of each academic year applications usually open in the previous academic year. For example, a student in year 13 in sixth form, has recently applied to 5 universities and got an offer from them all. They choose one as their firm choice and one as their insurance by March and they will start university in late September. After accepting their desired university as their firm choice they then go to that university website to look at the available scholarships and find one that is related to their course – engineering. The application deadline for this scholarship is July (before they have even started university!) and says that winners will be informed about the outcome of their application around August following confirmation of their A level results as this particular application has the following criteria:
- The student must have an offer to study at the desired university
- The student must have chosen the university as their firm or insurance choice
- The students family income needs to be below £30,000
- Predicted A level grades of ABB or higher
There’s always a deadline for applications to scholarships otherwise different students would be applying at various times in the year. Always note down the application deadline as well as when you will be informed of the outcome so you can remain on the lookout for emails from your university.
It’s best to apply to scholarships as soon as possible because they might even close applications early if they receive a lot of applicants. Also if you decide to delay in applying for a scholarship you could end up missing the deadline which would be such as shame, especially if you met all the eligibility criteria for a particular scholarship.
Most undergraduate scholarships are targeted at students in their first year of university, then they would continue to receive the scholarship throughout their time at university. If you’re in your second or third year at university it may be harder to find a scholarship you’re eligible for, so it might be best to search for bursaries as another source of funding for your degree.
Tips for the Application Process When Applying for a Scholarship
Make sure you first read all the eligibility criteria before applying. You need to find out whether you need to meet all the criteria, some, or specific criteria, then honestly ask yourself whether the scholarship is for you or if you need to do more research to find one better suited to you.
When filling out the application form always double check for spelling and grammar as well as ensuring all the questions have been answered and have been answered correctly. If you provide misleading or incorrect information your application for the scholarship may be rejected. The form may also ask for evidence for things such as your household income and your address, so ensure all this information is up to date and readily on hand when applying so this doesn’t delay the application process.
Most scholarships will have a section where they may ask how the scholarship would make a difference to you and your university life. It’s best to be honest about why you would like the scholarship and what exactly you would use it for. You could explain some of your hobbies or whether you have a passion project which is something that you’re working on aside from university and the impact the money from the scholarship would have. You could also mention any future career aspirations you may have and link it back to your degree and how much you have learned and benefitted from your university.
Always note the word count for specific answers and make sure you stick to it. If the word count for an answer is a maximum of 300 words make sure you make use of all those words by actually answering the specific question. If you were to write 150 words for example, this would show that you’re not really committed or interested in the scholarship as you can’t follow a clear instruction. Also, it’s best to not go over the word count as this would also show that you’re not following instructions, and the word count was actually given to make it easier for the people who decide winners of the scholarship.
Do You Need a Reference to Apply for a Scholarship?
Depending on the type of scholarship you apply for, a reference may be required. If you’re applying for a scholarship just before you start your first year at university, while you’re still at sixth form or college, the university may require a reference from someone in your school. This could be your head of year, the teacher of your favourite subject or your teacher for a subject similar to what you want to study in university.
A reference is needed to confirm your character and the things you have described about yourself in the application are true. As well as being a teacher it could be your current or former employer at a job you had. It should be someone who knows you well (not a family member though) professionally and can provide further insight into why you should be the best person to win the scholarship.
Always make sure you ask someone before making them a reference and let them know what the scholarship is for and why you are applying. This is so important because if you don’t let someone know they are your reference they could miss the email from your university asking them to provide more information about you. Or, if they got a call from your university they would be put on the spot and may not be well prepared to talk about how great you would be for scholarship. It’s always best to give potential references a head up beforehand.
What Happens if You Find Out That You Won a Scholarship?
If you found out that you won a scholarship, first of all congratulations are in order! Next you should ensure you have read all the terms and conditions associated to the scholarship and that you agree to all of them by signing the form.
Your university should then provide information about the amount you will receive, when you will receive it and any other useful information. For certain scholarships you may have to remain in contact with your university money team or student support team via email as they may want to have check ins with you to see how you’ve been getting on.
As some scholarships are funded by alumni, you might even can meet with them, either online or face to face; this could happen each semester while at university or even just once a year. This would be an amazing networking opportunity as well as having the chance to offer your appreciation and gratitude to them for providing financial support to you. Alumni would love to hear how you are getting on with university and how the scholarship is personally making a difference to your life.