Support for lower-income students
At Manchester, we provide support to help you enter higher education. This includes a range of bursaries and scholarships which provide financial support for students from low-income backgrounds, and targeted communities, including care experienced and estranged students, students of black heritage and those with refugee status.
Please click on the options below to find out more about the targeted support available.
The University of Manchester provides a variety of bursaries to students who are from low-income households, and they are automatically allocated to eligible students in Semester 1. In order to be eligible, students must have had a full household financial assessment through Student Finance England, and must have consented to share these financial details with the University. The following bursaries are currently offered:
1. The Manchester Bursary
The Manchester Bursary is available to UK students registered on an eligible undergraduate degree course at Manchester who have had a full financial assessment carried out by Student Finance England. This cash bursary is additional to the government package.
The Bursary is available to eligible students for the duration of their course, subject to a financial reassessment each year.
| Residual household income | Cash award |
|---|---|
| Up to £31,000 | £2,600 each year |
| Between £31,001 and £43,000 | £1,300 each year |
If you're entitled to NHS support as a Nursing, Midwifery or Allied Healthcare course student (for example, Speech and Language Therapy), you won't be eligible for the Manchester Bursary. Medicine and Dentistry students are entitled to a lower level of NHS funding beyond Year 4 and are therefore eligible for the Manchester Bursary during the years they’re also entitled to NHS funding.
2. Study Abroad Bursary
Students who are completing a year abroad will not be eligible to receive the Manchester Bursary, but will be eligible to receive the Study Abroad Bursary instead.
| Residual household income | Cash award |
|---|---|
| £0 to £25,000 | £2,000 |
| £25,001 to £35,000 | £1,000 |
3. Work Placement Bursary
Students who are completing a placement year will not be eligible to receive the Manchester Bursary, but will be eligible to receive the Work Placement Bursary instead.
| Residual household income | Cash award |
|---|---|
| £0 to £25,000 | £2,000 |
| £25,001 to £35,000 | £1,000 |
4. Foundation Year Bursary
Students on a foundation year will not be eligible to receive the Manchester Bursary but will be eligible to receive the Foundation Year Bursary instead.
| Residual household income | Cash award |
|---|---|
| £0 to £25,000 | £4,000 |
| £25,001 to £35,000 | £2,000 |
5. Accommodation Bursary
This bursary is designed to support first-year students living in University accommodation, and is applied as a discount on accommodation fees. Students must apply to be considered for this bursary. Learn more about our Accommodation Bursary.
Terms and Conditions
The above University of Manchester bursaries are paid in three instalments: 25% in December, 50% in February and 25% in April. You can learn more about our bursaries by reading the terms and conditions (Word document 529KB).
We'll take all reasonable steps to maintain the value of the annual financial support packages available to you. However, subject to regulatory approval, the University reserves the right to reduce the value of this support if there is a reduction in tuition fees payable because of change in government policy.
The University of Manchester is committed to supporting care experienced and estranged young people to access and succeed in higher education. We offer the following bursaries and scholarships specifically to independent students, along with the bursaries referenced above under ‘Financial support for students from low-income households’.
1. Undergraduate Access Scholarships
This scholarship is funded by our alumni community and donors, and is a cash bursary of £1,300 per year of undergraduate study, if you meet one of the following criteria:
- Are under the age of 25 and have been in public care for a minimum of three months since the age of 11
- Are under the age of 25 and have been estranged from your family for at least 6 months.
To receive this scholarship, you must evidence your status to our Independent Students team (independentstudents@manchester.ac.uk) when you arrive at the University. All eligible students will receive this scholarship.
This scholarship is paid in three instalments: 25% in December, 50% in February and 25% in April.
2. The Sadler Bursary
This £10,000 per year bursary will support up to 36 care-experienced or care leaver students who are starting their degree between September 2024 and September 2026, with their living costs during their undergraduate degree. This bursary requires an application. Learn more about the Sadler Bursary.
3. Accommodation Bursary
This bursary is designed to support first-year students living in University accommodation, and is applied as a discount on accommodation fees. Students must apply to be considered for this bursary. Learn more about the Accommodation Bursary.
The University of Manchester wants to ensure that Sanctuary Seekers are provided with the opportunity to study and succeed at the University of Manchester.
1. Article 26 scholarship
Every year, we therefore offer five Undergraduate scholarships to support students who face barriers to higher education because of their immigration status.
Learn more about the Article 26 scholarship.
2. Accommodation Bursary
This bursary is designed to support first-year students living in University accommodation, and is applied as a discount on accommodation fees. Students must apply to be considered for this bursary.
Black students are underrepresented at university level, and The University of Manchester wants to support students in overcoming the financial barriers they may face when trying to access and succeed within higher education.
The following scholarships are currently provided to a small number of students and require an application in the spring before starting at the University.
1. The Cowrie Foundation Scholarship
2. The Bason Family Bursary
The Manchester Access Programme is the University’s central widening participation scheme for local Year 12 students in Greater Manchester. Learn more about the Manchester Access Programme.
Students who successfully complete the Manchester Access Programme and start an Undergraduate course at the University of Manchester will receive the Undergraduate Access Scholarship.
The Undergraduate Access Scholarship
This scholarship is funded by our alumni community and donors, and is a payment of £1,300 per year, of a students first undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester.
If students have completed the Manchester Access Programme and are also verified by the University as being an independent student, they will receive £2,600.
Terms and Conditions
This scholarship is paid in three instalments: 25% in December, 50% in February and 25% in April. You can learn more about the Undergraduate Access Scholarships by reading the terms and conditions.
The Faculty of Science and Engineering have a variety of scholarship opportunities for UK students who pay home fees. Learn more about our science and engineering scholarships
Our Sports Scholarship offers an individualised and bespoke package to support your performance as well as sports memberships, specialist facilities and dedicated support, contributing to more than £9,000.
It's open to prospective and current student-athletes on undergraduate or postgraduate courses.