Manchester Master’s Bursary
We're committed to widening participation in master’s study and award bursaries each year to support students from underrepresented backgrounds to access postgraduate study at The University of Manchester.
Applications open
Applications are now open for September 2025 entry and will close Sunday, 1 June (11.59pm).
The Bursary
For 2025 entry, we have 100 bursaries available for students studying eligible master’s courses.
Recipients will receive a bursary of £4,000.
It’ll be paid in three instalments in October, January and April. Students undertaking a part-time course over two years will receive 50% of the bursary in their first year, and 50% in their second year.
Aline Egan legacy
In 2023, alumna Aline Egan chose to remember the University in her will and left a very generous donation that will fund 50 bursaries annually, for three academic years.
The donation will help up to 200 talented and deserving students access the same world-class education that Aline was fortunate to receive.
Who can apply?
Essential eligibility criteria
You must meet all of the following to apply:
- be studying your first master’s qualification, and studying for an LLM, MA, MEd, MBA, MEnt, MPH, MPhil, MRes, MSc, MSc by Research, MusM;
- be studying a full-time one-year or part-time two-year course, for a maximum of two years, starting in September 2025;
- be a home student paying tuition fees and have been in the UK for at least five years before starting your undergraduate course;
- have started your undergraduate course after September 2012.
Which courses aren't included?
- postgraduate certificates/diplomas (PGCert, PGDip, PGCE);
- integrated undergraduate master’s (MChem, MMath);
- Master of Architecture (MArch);
- MA Architecture and Urbanism;
- MSc Physician Associate Studies;
- doctoral degrees (PhD).
In addition to the essential criteria, you'll also need at least one of the following to apply:
Personal factor criteria
Identify as belonging to one of the following ethnic groups:
- Black or Black British – Caribbean;
- Black or Black British – African;
- Mixed – White and Black Caribbean;
- Mixed – White and Black African;
- Other Black background.
Or you're:
- a care leaver or care-experienced student;
- an estranged student;
- a young carer;
- a refugee or asylum seeker;
- disabled;
- from a military family.
Socio-economic criteria
- if you were eligible for free school meals during secondary education;
- if you lived in an area of relative deprivation when applying to your undergraduate university course;
- if you received a full/partial maintenance loan for the first three years of your undergraduate course;
- if you lived in a postcode of low progression to higher education when applying to your undergraduate university course.
Not all eligible students will be successful in their application. We’ll prioritise students based on the number and nature of their demographic criteria.
- For distance learning courses, you must have completed your undergraduate degree within the last five years.
- You cannot apply to this scheme if you receive course funding from an employer, a public funding body or an undergraduate loan (such as NHS, PGCE, integrated master’s).
- If you’re applying for MA Social Work, you'll be eligible if you don't receive the NHS Bursary.
- Intercalating medical students are eligible for this Bursary.
- Typically, you cannot receive additional University funding in addition to the Manchester Master's Bursary. Exceptions include bursaries awarded as a fee discount, such as the Alumni Scholarship. If you’re eligible for multiple fees discounts, the bursary of higher value will normally apply.
Depending on which criteria you meet, you may be asked to submit additional documents as supporting evidence, including:
- Been in local authority care (for at least 13 weeks): A letter confirming this.
- Student Finance: Notification of award letter confirming the full maintenance award received.
- Geo-demographic indicator: Student Loan Company letter showing your home postcode at the start of undergraduate study, if it met the relevant indicator.
- Disabled Students’ Allowance: Notification of award letter from Student Finance, and/or a letter from your university’s disability office confirming the support you received.
- Refugee/asylum status: Document providing evidence of your current immigration status, including recognition as a refugee, asylum seeker or holder of humanitarian protection status.
- Carer: A Word document detailing your caring responsibilities.
- Estranged from your family: Evidence of your estranged status assessed by Student Finance during your undergraduate studies or a Word document with further information.
Your supporting statement
The supporting statement is your chance to provide as much detail as you feel you can about challenging personal circumstances that may have interrupted your undergraduate study.
You will also have the opportunity to express your motivations for undertaking a master’s course, your plans for after you graduate and how the Bursary would help you achieve your goals.
Applications are now open and will close on Sunday,1 June (11.59PM).
A small selection panel will review your application, and we will get in touch with you in July to confirm the outcome.