We offer financial support from underrepresented groups to help students access higher education.
This support includes a bursary of £500 for those students who meet criteria such as;
- When a student’s household income is less than £25,000.
- When a student has accessed Free School Meals during their secondary education.
- When a student is care experienced.
- Where a student is from a postcode area where young people are less likely to go to university.
We also offer support for eligible students who require financial support to access IT equipment and enrichment activities as part of their learning programme.
Application Forms will be provided to eligible students based on the information supplied through enrolment and Student Finance England.
Aimed at supporting low income, high deprivation or students with disabilities to complete additional qualifications or to engage in industry-specific development which will support their future career. There will be a number of employability bursaries available in this academic year. Students can apply for this bursary to support their employability ambitions and enhance their CVs. The award is up to a maximum of £300 per application.
Forms are available from our Bursaries team.
Once you have enrolled, you can apply for financial support through our PayMyStudent application portal. (visit here) Applications open in September 2026
To help us assess your application, you'll need to provide supporting evidence, such as your Student Finance award notification, bank statements or other relevant documentation. Our Student Services team is on hand to guide you through the process and answer any questions you may have.
If your application is successful, we'll ask you to complete a short Request Form so we can better understand the assistance you need. We'll then review your requirements and confirm the outcome of your application by email.
As bursary funding is limited, we encourage you to apply as early as possible. Applications are considered while funding remains available, and once the allocated funds have been distributed, applications may close for the academic year.
HE Financial Support Application Form
If you are a full-time student with dependent children, you may be entitled to help from the Parents' Learning Allowance through Student Finance England. This extra finance (along with the Childcare Grant) can help pay for childcare and other costs related to your course.
You may be entitled receive between £50 and £2024 per year for course-related costs, which is paid in three instalments and is paid on top of other student finance you may receive. You can apply through Student Finance England.
Students studying eligible programmes at the University Centre may be able to access additional financial support through our Institute of Technology (IoT) Bursary Fund.
The bursary is designed to help remove financial barriers to higher education and support students throughout their studies. Depending on individual circumstances and eligibility, funding may be available to help with essential study-related costs, including:
- Travel
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
- Work placement expenses
- Specialist books
- Equipment and learning resources
Furthermore, if you have any queries regarding this support fund, please do get in touch with the Bursaries team on bursaries@bishopburton.ac.uk.
Eligibility
To be considered for the Institute of Technology Bursary Scheme, students must meet the relevant course and postcode eligibility requirements. Priority may be given to students who:
Have dependent children, particularly single parents.
Are mature students with existing financial commitments.
Are from a low-income household.
Have a disability or learning difficulty.
Are care experienced.
Are from an under-represented ethnic background within their chosen curriculum area.
How to apply
To apply, simply collect an application form from Student Services. If you'd like to find out more about the bursary or discuss your eligibility before applying, our friendly team will be happy to help.
A Childcare Grant may be available through Student Finance England for Higher Education students with dependent children in registered or accredited childcare. It cannot be claimed for if a student is already claiming the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit from HMRC. This is an award for students with children under the age of five, and covers 85% of the childcare costs. For the remaining 15% that the student’s Childcare Grant does not cover, we offer a bursary which is paid directly to the childcare provider.
This support is to cover the student’s days of timetabled attendance only, and is subject to available funds. Please contact Student Services regarding eligibility and how to apply by emailing bursaries@bishopburton.ac.uk.
