Digital Equity Scheme
Key information
- Other
- Digital device - Laptop or iPad
- Award length
- One-off
- Study level
- Fee status
- Home (UK)
- Number of awards available
- Approximately 150
- Student type
- Current
- Applications open
- 9 November 2026
Still unsure if this is for you? Then please contact us
About the Digital Equity Scheme
The University of Manchester's Digital Equity Charter sets out the University’s commitment to ensuring that all our students have equitable access to hardware, software, connectivity and study spaces. The Digital Equity scheme is an important element of this charter, and provides a digital device to students in Year 1 of their course, to support their studying throughout their degree. The scheme offers either a laptop or iPad, dependent upon your course.
Please note that all eligible students will not receive a device. We will prioritise students based on your current household income.
Scheme eligibility
Essential criteria are conditions you must meet to be considered for this scheme. Students who do not meet these criteria will not be considered for this award.
To be eligible, you must meet the following:
To be eligible, you must meet the following:
- Be in Year 1 of an undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester
- Have applied for funding from Student Finance, and have had a full household income assessment completed (not applicable for students in receipt of the Article 26 scholarship)
- And, meet at least one of the following criteria:
Have a household income of less than £31,000, AND be in reciept of £2,600 from the Manchester Bursary
Be a care-experienced or estranged student, under the age of 25, AND in receipt of the Undergraduate Access Scholarship
Be a young adult carer who is living with the person you care for during term time
Be in receipt of the Article 26 scholarship
Please note that students on a foundation year are not eligible for this scheme.
Priority criteria
Priority criteria is additional information about you that will be used to make our final selection decisions.
Priority will be given to students who:
Priority will be given to students with the lowest household income.
Application and selection process
How to apply
Students must complete the application form to be considered for this award.
Please ensure you fully complete the application form, as we will not be able to chase information on incomplete applications.
What you need to apply
Within the application, you will be asked to evidence each of the eligibility and priority criteria that you meet.
Dependent upon which criteria you meet, you may need:
- Screenshot evidence of being in receipt of £2,600 from the Manchester Bursary
- Screenshot evidence of being in receipt of the Undergraduate Access Scholarship
- Screenshot evidence of being in receipt of the Article 26 Scholarship
- Evidence of being a young carer, using a young carer assessment, carer card/passport, a letter from your GP or a healthcare professional, or a letter from another professional (e.g. social worker)
Selection process
We will use the information provided in your application form, University student record and Student Finance information to prioritise the applicants.
We will prioritise students based on your household income.
We will email all applicants to inform you if your application was successful or unsuccessful.
Terms and conditions
Sharing your household income information
When completing your Student Finance England application, you will need to ensure you have selected the option to consent to share your household income information with the Universities you have applied to or hold an offer with. Without this we cannot access that information, and we will not be able to consider your application for this scheme.
Engaging with donors
This scheme is generously supported by a donor. Successful applicants will be expected to provide regular updates on their progress to the donor and meet with them as part of the terms and conditions of receiving the award.
Understanding your fee status
This scheme uses your fee status as part of its eligibility criteria. Find out more about how The University of Manchester assesses tuition fee statuses
Application and Selection process
Completing an application does not guarantee you will receive this award
Verifying your eligibility
Applicants must meet eligibility criteria and be in a position to verify their circumstances in order to apply. Applicants who do not meet the criteria will not be considered for an award
Contact
For enquiries about this award, please contact us.