Bursaries
Bursaries
Finding funds to join a program abroad doesn’t have to be challenging. There are many options available, such as checking to see if we have any special offers available or raising funds via our fundraising page.
Alternatively, if you’re a citizen of the United Kingdom, you might qualify for a bursary to help fund your program. You can learn more by visiting or contacting one of the colleges or universities mentioned below.
University specific bursaries
ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students who have an annual household income of £42,875 or less.
- Undergraduate and integrated Masters students.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
BATH SPA UNIVERSITY - WIDENING PARTICIPATION BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Household income below £15,000, £25,000 or £42,875.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000.
UNIVERSITY OF BATH - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students with a household income of £30,000 or below.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY - GATEWAY TO WORK EXPERIENCE BURSARY
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY - WORK EXPERIENCE BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Open to all undergraduate students
How to apply:
Via the University of Birmingham’s website.
BIRKBECK, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - DEGREES IN THE AREAS OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES
Who qualifies:
- Students enrolled in a BSc or postgraduate degree (PhD, MPhil or Master’s) in Earth and planetary sciences, including students in the Natural Sciences degree’s Earth and planetary sciences stream.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY - PLACEMENT AND PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
Who qualifies:
- UK Home students enrolled on a full-time undergraduate BU course.
- Household income of £25,000 or below.
OR
- Household income over £25,000.
- Mature student – 21 or over at start of course.
- Additional learning needs/disability.
- A care leaver.
- Live in an area of disadvantage.
- From an ethnic minority.
- Female students taking STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY - OPPORTUNITY BURSARY
UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Household income below £25,000, £30,000 or £40,000.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 per year.
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK - SIR PETER HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD
Who qualifies:
- Students of any discipline aged 18–25 for projects involving travel to Asia, focused on geography, history, politics, conservation, culture or art of the region.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
Funds available:
£1,000.
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UCL) - EXPEDITION AND TRAVEL GRANTS
- UCL Expedition Grants support student teams in challenging, skill-based explorations.
- UCL Travel Grants offer smaller awards for individual, original travel.
Who qualifies:
- Open to UCL students demonstrating teamwork and independent travel.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
ST JOHN’S UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE - TRAVEL GRANTS
Who qualifies:
- St John’s students – there are many different grants here.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY - TRAVEL GRANTS
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Household income below £30,000
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000 per year.
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH - WORK EXPERIENCE TRAVEL BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- You must be undertaking a low- or unpaid work placement that contributes to your career development to qualify for travel cost assistance.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
Funds available:
Up to £500 each year for travel abroad.
UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON - HARDSHIP BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students from low-income households facing unforeseen financial difficulties.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000.
EDGE HILL UNIVERSITY - STUDENT OPPORTUNITY FUND
Who qualifies:
- Edge Hill University undergrad, postgrad taught, PGCE or MRes students can apply for up funding to support a career-enhancing project or volunteering opportunity.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000.
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
CHESTER UNIVERSITY - VARIOUS
CITY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
COVENTRY UNIVERSITY - GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES
Who qualifies:
- Various studying, working or volunteering abroad opportunities are available to students at Coventry University.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF DERBY - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Based on income.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 per year.
DURHAM UNIVERSITY - GLOBAL OPPORTUNITIES
Who qualifies:
- Various global volunteer and work experience opportunities are available to Durham University students.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF EAST ANGLIA - STUDENT JOBS AND WORK EXPERIENCE
Who qualifies:
- Various opportunities are available to University of East Anglia students.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
EAST LONDON - ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRESSION BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX - TURING SCHEME FUNDING
Who qualifies:
- Students at the University of Essex. The Turing Scheme is a UK initiative that funds global study and work placements, giving you the chance to gain valuable international experience.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER - OPPORTUNITIES ABROAD
Who qualifies:
- Students at the University of Exeter. Various opportunities are on offer, including funding from The Turing Scheme.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY - TURING SCHEME FUNDING
Who qualifies:
- Falmouth University has secured Turing Scheme funding for 2024–25, supporting students to study or work abroad.
How to apply:
Full details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE -VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£700 on top of maintenance per semester.
UNIVERSITY OF HERTFORDSHIRE - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £31,000 in the Hertfordshire area.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000.
UNIVERSITY OF HULL - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £60,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £5,000 a year.
KEELE - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Current UK undergraduate at Keele University.
- Belong to at least one key student group.
- Have an annual household income below £62,347.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
UNIVERSITY OF KENT - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON - BROADENING HORIZONS AWARD
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
KINGSTON UNIVERSITY - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
LANCASTER UNIVERSITY - LOW INCOME AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £30.000 and for high achievers (2:1 average and above).
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,875.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
LEEDS BECKETT - PLACEMENT SUPPORT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
LEEDS TRINITY - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 in second year
LIVERPOOL - LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000 who are Merseyside resident students in financial hardship (Hillsborough Trust Fund).
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500
LONDON SOUTHBANK UNIVERSITY - LOW INCOME AND LAWRENCE BURROWS EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Residents with a maximum maintenance loan.
- UK/ EU residents of West Indian or Asian background.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
MANCHESTER - LOW INCOME AND WORK PLACEMENT
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000 or Manchester Access program.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
NORTHAMPTON - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
NOTTINGHAM - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £47,900.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
OXFORD BROOKES - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
PORTSMOUTH UNIVERSITY - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £750
Additional notes:
Insert text here where applicable.
QUEEN MARY - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution or student finance with initial application.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700
READING - LOW INCOME AND PLACEMENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £27,000 with a placement either abroad or in the UK.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,100 for low-income and between £200-£1,000 for placement
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY - WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,700.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
ROYAL HOLLOWAY - LOW INCOME AND MATURE STUDENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Under £30,000 and students over 21.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
SOAS - LOW INCOME AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE TRAVELLING TO INDIA
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,500
SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY - LOW INCOME AND BURSARIES FOR SPORTS INVOLVEMENT
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000 – £3,000
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT - UNPAID PLACEMENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Unpaid placements
How to apply:
Via the institution.
ST. GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,900.
How to apply:
Via institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700
SANTANDER - GRANT
Who qualifies:
- University students whose university partner with Santander and thus have a branch on their campus.
How to apply:
Apply through contact with Santander on university campus – first come first served basis.
Funds available:
£250 – £1,000
ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY - HIGH ACHIEVERS AND LOW INCOME BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students who are from a low-income background and receive ABB+ at A level.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
SUFFOLK - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
SUNDERLAND - WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Students attending a Sunderland partner college.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up £500 for normal entry age and £2,500 cashback for those doing foundation years
SURREY - WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Those with low household incomes and in Surrey postcodes.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
UCFB - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000 in the Wembley area.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£3,500 (different on incomes above £25,000 but under £42,000)
UCL - WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- African or Caribbean males.
- Widening participation for London students from low income backgrounds.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 for London students and up £1,000 for Afro-Caribbean males
UNIVERSITY OF LAW - WIDENING PARTICIPATION/LORD BLUNKETT
Who qualifies:
- Partner institution + BBB at A Level, University of Nottingham undergraduate are prioritised for widening participation bursary.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
UNIVERSITY ARTS LONDON - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students reliant completely on student finance.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
WARWICK - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000 and an extra £1,000 if their criteria met
WEST LONDON - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
UNIVERSITY OF WEST ENGLAND, BRISTOL - LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
WINCHESTER - LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000 and in partnered postcodes in the area.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 and up to £2,000 for those under £16,000
YORK - FIRST YEAR LOW INCOME BURSARY AND THEN STANDARD LOW INCOME
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000 in the first year and £1,000 for the last two to three years
Bursaries available across the United Kingdom
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - HIGHER ACHIEVERS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students from low-income backgrounds that achieve 2:1 grades can receive up to £2,000 a year. The application for bursary comes with the student finance application and is received every year as long as the grade is maintained.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Additional notes:
No limit on number of applicants.
GO OVERSEAS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- No requirements (including no grades/or age).
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500 available
Additional notes:
Two applications available a year. Applicants have to send in a short essay about their volunteering opportunity abroad
LORD MAYOR'S 800TH ANNIVERSARY TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 17-24.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£50 – £1,000 available
Additional notes:
Two applications a year (late spring, late fall)
HAZEL’S FOOTPRINTS TRUST FOOTPRINTER GRANT
Who qualifies:
- People aged 18 years and over.
- Project must be a minimum of six months in a developing country.
- Open to UK and Europe residents.
Additional notes:
Deadline mid-March and late September.
JACK PETCHEY FOUNDATION BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 11 to 25, who are living in London or Essex.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £400 (paid directly to volunteer company)
Additional notes:
Applications must be made three to nine months prior to program start date.
THE FERGUSON TRUST (UK) BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 16-18
- Open to those taking a gap year which includes a stint of volunteering
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£300
Additional notes:
Deadline is ongoing.
THE JOICEY TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People who live within Northumberland or East Scottish borders, for community development programs.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT FUNDING
Who qualifies:
- Must be a student in HMC schools.
- Program must be for three months or more.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£400-£600. One hardship award of £1,000 is awarded whose financial needs prevent a gap year being possible.
THE CAPTAIN SCOTT SOCIETY BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Under 19s
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500
Additional notes:
Must apply before March of each year to be eligible.
THE SIR PHILIP RECKITT EDUCATIONAL TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Residents in Hull, Norfolk or the former East Riding of Yorkshire
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Additional notes:
The Trust’s assistance comes in the form of contributions towards the cost of travel, residence and attendance at conferences, lectures and educational courses.
JOHN MUIR TRUST - DES RUBENS AND BILL WALLACE GRANT
Who qualifies:
- UK applicants with Scottish ties.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£200 – £2,000
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Open to society members.
- People aged 18 and over.
- Program must have a biological aspect.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Two bursaries at £500 available each year
BRITISH MEDICAL AND DENTAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Scholarships available for students doing degrees in the medical fields.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 for four weeks
THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Offered for young people between 18-25.
- Varies widely from those in education to sustainable living and the arts.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £6,000
RDC FOUNDATION BURSARY
WIDENING PARTICIPATION BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students from BAME.
- Students from low-income at universities across the UK.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Varied depending on income, more funding for those households with an annual income of under £25,000.
CARE LEAVERS BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students who have been in the care system.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £5,700 for the three academic years
Additional notes:
Apply directly through their universities or student finance.
SANTANDER BANK UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS
JACKPETCHEY FOUNDATION INDIVIDUAL GRANTS FOR VOLUNTEERING
Who qualifies:
- Young people aged 11-25 living in London and Essex who want to take part in volunteering projects in the UK and overseas.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £400 per person
Northern Ireland bursaries
QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY, BELFAST - LOW INCOME AND WORK PLACEMENTS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £19,203.
- Work placements for humanities and social science
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£416 for low income and up to £1,000 for placements
ULSTER UNIVERSITY -LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION (ACCESS BURSARY)
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £19,203.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Between £416 – £1,000
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