University Bursary

Bursary information for 2026/27

1. University Bursary

The University Bursary provides targeted financial assistance to help cover the costs of higher education for eligible students. The University will offer two University Bursary awards.

A cash bursary of £1,000 per year to eligible undergraduate, home (UK), full-time students with a household income below £36,592, paying a tuition fee of £9,790. This applies to both new and returning students, subject to continuing eligibility.

A cash bursary of £600 per year to eligible undergraduate, home (UK), full-time students with a household income below £36,592, paying a tuition fee of £5,760 (Foundation Year). This applies to new students only.

Bursaries will be paid directly to students in cash instalments.

Eligibility

You will be eligible to receive the University Bursary from September 2026 if you meet ALL the following criteria:

You are entering Higher Education for the first time (after 1 September 2026)
£1,000 cash award: You are paying the maximum home tuition fee for a full-time undergraduate degree programme (£9,790 in academic year 2026/27), or:
£600 cash award: You are paying a home tuition fee for a full-time undergraduate degree programme that contains a classroom-based Foundation Year (£5,760 in academic year 2026/27), and:
You have a household income of £36,592 or less as assessed by your UK National Student Finance Service (i.e. Student Finance England)
You are eligible to receive a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan from your UK National Student Finance Service.

Please note that overseas students, EU students, postgraduate students, part-time students, online students, PGCE students, and students studying professional courses are not eligible for this support.

How to apply

You do not need to make an application for the University Bursary. Entitlement is assessed automatically using the household income details given to the University by your UK National Student Finance Service.

To assess you for a Bursary, your sponsor(s) (i.e. parent(s) or partner) will need to give consent to share their income details through Student Finance. If your sponsor(s) has not given consent to share their information, they can contact the appropriate funding authority directly.

2. Care Leavers Bursary

We recognise the unique challenges that care leavers may face and are committed to helping ease some of the financial pressures during your time at university. For the 2026/27 academic year, the Care Leavers Bursary will continue to provide dedicated financial support to eligible students.

Award

A cash bursary to eligible undergraduate, home (UK), full-time students, subject to continuing eligibility. Bursaries will be paid directly to students in cash instalments.

Eligibility

You will be eligible to receive the Care Leaver Bursary from September 2026 if you meet ALL the following criteria:

£1,000 cash award: You are paying the maximum home tuition fee for a full-time undergraduate degree programme (£9,790 in academic year 2026/27), or:
£600 cash award: You are paying a home tuition fee for a full-time undergraduate degree programme that contains a classroom-based Foundation Year (£5,760 in academic year 2026/27), and:
You are enrolled on a full-time undergraduate degree course
You have been assessed by your UK National Student Finance Service (i.e. Student Finance England) as a care leaver; and;
You are under the age of 25 in the year you are assessed for the bursary.

How to apply

You do not need to make an application for the Care Leavers Bursary. Entitlement is assessed automatically using the details given to the University by your Funding Authority (i.e. Student Finance England / Wales / Northern Ireland / SAAS).

Our Student Money Advisors can support you with any process relating to assessment of care leaver status, email smart@derby.ac.uk

Continuing students

If you have received the University Bursary or the Care Leavers Bursary in previous academic years, we will continue to assess your eligibility using the standard eligibility criteria.;

Ongoing eligibility is based on your successful progression through your studies (i.e. stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 etc.) Bursaries are not available twice for the same Stage. 

Notification of awards (payments, dates etc) will be emailed to all eligible students automatically.

University Bursary FAQs

We’ve tried to answer some questions you may have about the University Bursary below. If you have any further questions, please contact the SMART team by email at smart@derby.ac.uk

Do I need to apply for a University Bursary?

Eligibility for the University Bursary is assessed automatically using the household income details given to the University by the Student Loans Company (SLC). There is no application required.

When will I hear about my University Bursary?

Notification of any Bursary award (payments, dates etc.) will be e-mailed to students after enrolment. For September starters, this could be anytime up to the end of October. For March starters, this could be anytime up to the end of April.

When will I receive my University Bursary?

Bursary payments are made in three instalments over the academic year. For September starters, this will be November, February and May. For March starters, this will be May, July and December. Payment dates and amounts will be confirmed via e-mail.

What does "entering Higher Education for the first time" mean?

The University Bursary is available to "new undergraduate students entering higher education for the first time".  This criteria is applied when a student commences study with the University of Derby.

Any period of previous study at Higher Education (HE) level will make a student ineligible for the University Bursary.

Higher Education (HE) is recognised as being any study above Level 3.  Please open the following link for more information:

https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

The study level information published on Gov.uk is used as a primary source of clarification and validation when assessing previous study.

Regardless of how, when or where the previous study was undertaken, whether a qualification was gained, or whether any funding was available or received, any period of study above Level 3 is considered Higher Education (HE) for Bursary purposes.

Please be aware, if a student has previously studied at Level 3 on a Higher Education course (i.e. the foundation year of a degree programme etc) they may still be assessed as ineligible for the University Bursary.

I received a University Bursary last year. Will I get one this year?

If you have received a Bursary in a previous academic year, we will continue to assess your eligibility using the standard eligibility criteria. Eligibility for a Bursary is based on successful progression through your studies (i.e. Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3 etc.). Bursaries are not available twice for the same Stage.

I’m an international student, am I eligible?

If you’re joining us from overseas, you’re not eligible for the University Bursary, although we have a range of scholarships and discounts available to international students.

Contact us

We know it's complicated so our friendly SMART team can talk you through it all.

E: smart@derby.ac.uk