Information about University bursaries for UK undergraduate and PGCE students starting their studies in 2011-12
Funding your future
While the cost of living for our students is among the lowest in the country, you may still be able to benefit from the extra financial assistance the University of Sheffield can provide.
A bursary is the same as a grant, so you don't have to pay this money back (unless your circumstances change - see below).
For students starting their studies in 2011-12, as well as any student loans and grants you're entitled to, you could also get a University of Sheffield bursary of between £250 and £1,400.
How do our bursaries work?
There are two types of bursary available: income and outreach. You may qualify for both. How much you're entitled to depends on the following:
Income
If your household income is £18,000 a year or under you will entitled to £1,000 income bursary a year. If your income is between £18,001 and £25,000 you will be entitled to £750, incomes between £25,001 to £30,000 will receive £500 and incomes between £30,001 to £35,000 will receive £250.
Outreach
Through outreach schemes we work with schools and colleges in our region to encourage applications from students who, for financial and other reasons, may not otherwise have considered university an option.
If you are registered one of these schemes, and your household income is £18,000 or under you're entitled to an outreach bursary of £400. If your income is between £18,001 and £25,000 you will be entitled to £250, incomes between £25,001 to £30,000 will receive £150 and incomes between £30,001 to £35,000 will receive £50.
Our outreach schemes are:
- Compact
- SOAMS: Sheffield's Outreach and Access to Medicine Scheme
- PPP: Professions Progression Partnerships
- ADOPT: Access to Dental Occupations; Practice and Tutoring
Compact Scheme for schools in the region
Sheffield's Outreach and Access to Medicine Scheme (SOAMS)
ADOPT: Access to Dental Occupations; Practice and Tutoring
Bursaries at a glance
Work out your bursary entitlement using this table:
| Income Threshold | Income Bursary | Outreach Bursary |
|---|---|---|
| £18,000 or under | £1,000 | £400 |
| £18,001 to £25,000 | £750 | £250 |
| £25,001 to £30,000 | £500 | £150 |
| £30,001 to £35,000 | £250 | £50 |
Examples of how our bursaries are calculated
Example oneCaroline applies to study Medicine:
She is awarded £1,000 Income bursary and £400 Outreach bursary. Total £1,400 a year. |
Example twoAdeel applies to study Architecture:
He receives £500 Income bursary a year. |
Example threeJamie applies for Chemical and Process Engineering:
He doesn't qualify for any bursary. |
Need to know
- To be considered for a bursary, you must have first applied to Student Finance England or equivalent assessing agency for loans and grant assessment using a PN1 form or online application. You must be eligible for at least part of the loans and grant support to be eligible for a University Bursary. Those students undertaking a second degree may find that they are not eligible for loans, grants or bursaries.
- If your course is fully NHS funded (ie there are no tuition fees to be paid) you will not be eligible for a University bursary.
- There is no limit on the number of UK students who can qualify for a bursary.
- The bursaries apply to each year of your course, excluding years abroad or in industry.
- Bursaries also depend on your progression from one year to the next. If you need to repeat a year, it is unlikely an award will be made, however we will consider each case on an individual basis.
- Normally you will receive details about your bursary within four weeks of the start of your course.
- Bursaries do not normally have to be paid back, as they are a grant not a loan. However if you withdraw from your course or take a leave of absence you may have to repay a percentage of your bursary that you received in that academic year. If your circumstances change, for example if your household income is reassessed at a higher value by Student Finance England, you may have to repay all or part of your bursary.
Payment
Bursaries are paid in two installments, during the study year, into your bank account. The first installment is normally paid within eight weeks of registering and the second by the end of February. Payments are made directly into your bank account.
How to apply for a bursary
You don't have to fill in another form. When you apply to Student Finance England or equivalent assessing agency for a tuition fee loan, maintenance loan, or maintenance grant, you will provide the information necessary for us to work out how much bursary you're entitled to. About four weeks after the start of your course, the Financial Support Team will write to you and let you know how much bursary you will receive.