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Education Matters Scholarship

The Education Matters scholarship supports a student for a low-income background, with high academic achievement to access and succeed at The University of Manchester.

Key information

Award value
Tuition fee
Full tuition fee waiver
Paid directly to you
£8,000 per year
Award length
Length of degree
Study level
Undergraduate
Fee status
Home (UK)
Number of awards available
1
Student type
Prospective
Eligible students
Low income households
Applicable subject areas
All undergraduate degrees

Still unsure if this is for you? Then please contact us

Applications are currently closed.

Education Matters is a charity that promotes and advances the education of individuals who may otherwise face obstacles in accessing educational opportunities. Following a generous donation in 2024, Education Matters will be supporting one student with their tuition fees and living costs for the duration of their degree at The University of Manchester.

Scheme eligibility

Essential criteria are criteria you must meet to be considered for this scheme. Students who do not meet this criteria will not be considered for this award. The essential criteria for this scheme are as follows:

You must meet all of the following criteria to apply:

  • Have been assessed for fee status as a 'home' student.
  • Have been eligible for free school meals in secondary school or college/sixth form (this includes students who opted not to have them).
  • Have a household income of £31,000 or less, as assessed by your regional student funding authority.
  • Have made an application to your regional student funding authority (Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland or Scotland) for income-assessed UK government financial support.

Priority criteria

Priority criteria are additional criteria we use based on the information you have provided us to make our final selection decisions. The priority criteria for this scheme are as follows:

Personal factors:

  • If you are a care leaver or care-experienced student;
  • If you are an estranged/independent student;
  • If you are a young carer;
  • If you are a refugee or asylum seeker;
  • If you have a disability;
  • If you are from a military family;

Socio-economic factors:

  • If you were eligible for free school meals during secondary education;
  • If you live in an area of relative deprivation.

Higher education progression information:

  • If you live in a postcode of low progression to higher education;
  • If you went to a low attaining secondary school;
  • If you go to a low attaining sixth form/college.

Application and selection process

How to apply

Students must complete the application form to be considered for this award.

What you need to apply

Within the application, you will be asked to evidence each of the eligibility criteria and priority criteria that you meet. This will require formal evidence.

You will need (depending on which priority criteria you meet):

  • A letter evidencing your address
  • If you are care experienced, you will be required to provide a letter from your local authority or social worker confirming your time in care
  • If you are estranged from your parents, you will need to provide a letter from a professional to confirm your estrangement, including a teacher, doctor, social worker
  • If you are a young carer, you will need to provide evidence of this using a young carer assessment, carer card/passport, a letter from your GP or a healthcare professional, or a letter from another professional including a teacher or social worker
  • If you are a refugee or asylum seeker, you will need to provide evidence of your immigration status through a letter from the home office or a share code
  • If you have a disability, you will be required to provide a letter showing your personal independence payment or a letter from your school confirming what additional support they provide you
  • If you are from a military family, you will need to provide a letter evidencing this

Selection process

We will use the information provided in your application form and the evidence provided, along with your supporting statement and the information provided by UCAS to prioritise the applicants.
We will prioritise students based on the number and nature of the priority criteria that you meet.

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.

Breaks in funding

This award is not provided during study years abroad, placement years, or if a student takes a study interruption.

Your course offer and this scheme

Receipt of this award is subject to you meeting you course offer commitments and registering at the University of Manchester in the year of entry specified in the application form.

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 here: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/tuition-fee-status/

Application and Selection

Completing an application for this award does not guarantee you will receive this award

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