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:
- Home-fee-paying undergraduates completing an eligible activity who meet the eligibility criteria. Eligible activities include term-time study or work placements abroad, Global Summer Exchange, or short-term activities like electives or internships.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Usually between £250 and £900.
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 (based on entry grades).
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000/£2,000.
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 UNIVERSITY - PLACEMENT SUPPORT BURSARY
LEEDS TRINITY 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 £500 in second year.
UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A wide range of bursaries and scholarships are on offer.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES 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 £500.
LONDON SOUTH BANK 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 £3,000.
UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A wide range of bursaries and scholarships are on offer.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
UNIVERSITY OF NORTHAMPTON - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
UNIVERSITY OF 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:
- The bursary amount will depend on your annual household income.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 per year.
OXFORD BROOKES 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 £3,000.
UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH - MAYFLOWER AWARD (ACCESS BURSARY)
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
UNIVERSITY OF PORTSMOUTH - 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.
QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- The bursary amount will depend on your annual household income.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700.
UNIVERSITY OF READING - LOW-INCOME AND PLACEMENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £27,000 and living within eligible areas.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,500 per year of eligibility.
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
- The bursary amount will depend on your annual household income.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,500 per year (for a maximum of three years).
ROYAL HOLLOWAY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- The bursary amount depends on your annual household income and/or other eligibility requirements.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000 in each year of study.
ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
SOAS UNIVERSITY OF 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 £4,500 over the duration of your degree.
SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £30,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000.
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT - UNPAID PLACEMENT/VOLUNTEERING GRAN
ST. GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - LOW- INCOME BURSARY
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700 in the first year of study and £1,000 in subsequent years of study.
SANTANDER - BRIGHTER FUTURES GRANT
Who qualifies:
- University students whose university partners with Santander and have a branch on their campus.
How to apply:
Apply through contact with Santander on university campus – first come, first served basis.
Funds available:
£1,000.
ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £15,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£2,000 for each year of your degree.
UNIVERSITY OF SUFFOLK - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£500 bursary in each academic year of study – maximum of 3 years.
UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF SURREY - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
UCFB - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £40,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000 per year.
UCL - WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Household income of £42,000 or less.
- Eligibility criteria can be found here.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,200.
UNIVERSITY OF LAW - WIDENING PARTICIPATION/LORD BLUNKETT
Who qualifies:
- Household income of £25,000 or less.
- Eligibility criteria is listed here.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
UNIVERSITY ARTS LONDON - HARDSHIP FUND
UNIVERSITY OF 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.
UNIVERSITY OF WEST LONDON - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £28,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000 (£1,000 per year).
UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL - LOW-INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £50,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,500 for each year of your course.
UNIVERSITY OF WINCHESTER - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
UNIVERSITY OF YORK - UNIVERSITY OF OPPORTUNITY FUND
Who qualifies:
- Bursary amounts are based on a range of eligibility criteria.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Bursaries available across the United Kingdom
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON - VARIOUS
Who qualifies:
- A range of bursaries and scholarships are available.
How to apply:
Details can be found here.
GO OVERSEAS BURSARY
LORD MAYOR'S 800TH ANNIVERSARY TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 17–24.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Varying in value between £50 and £1,000.
HAZEL’S FOOTPRINT’S TRUST - FOOTPRINTER VOLUNTEER GRANTS
Who qualifies:
- People aged 18 years and over.
- Volunteering work must be in the field of education and must be in a developing country.
- Residents of Scotland.
Additional notes:
Two funding rounds each year. You must apply no later than mid-February and mid-August respectively to be considered at the next funding round.
JACK PETCHEY FOUNDATION - INDIVIDUAL GRANTS FOR VOLUNTEERING
Who qualifies:
- People aged 11 to 25, who live in London or Essex. See full range of criteria here.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £400 (paid directly to the volunteer company).
Additional notes:
Applications must be made at least three months, but not more than nine months, before the project 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:
- The Society offers two awards a year: the “Spirit of Adventure” and the £500 “Sir Vivian Fuchs Award” for youth.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500 to £2,000.
Additional notes:
Both are funded by membership subscriptions and granted to expeditions embodying the adventurous spirit of Captain Scott and The British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913.
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:
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 to £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 £1,000 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.
THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Offered for young people between 18 and25.
- Varies widely from those in education to sustainable living and the arts.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
RDC FOUNDATION BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Individuals aged 11 to 19 who are undertaking significant, life-changing adventures that they have played a key role in planning.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000.
WIDENING PARTICIPATION BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.
- 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 BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £19,203.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
ULSTER UNIVERSITY - WIDENING ACCESS AND CARE LEAVER BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £19,203.
- Full-time undergraduate students leaving care, or who have spent time in care for a period of three months.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Between £475 and £1,000.
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