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Scholarships and Bursaries
You could be eligible for a range of student grants to help fund your studies, trips, projects or future career.
If you’re looking for financial help for students, you’ve probably heard of scholarships and bursaries. But what are they, and how can you access them? This page covers how university grants work and links to all the awards available to Bath Spa University students.
Remember, securing your funding for university is the first and most important step you can take in organising your student finances.
In the UK, funding for students usually takes the form of a tuition fee loan to pay for your course, and a maintenance loan for living costs. Your student loan entitlement informs the automatic payments you receive.
Scholarships and bursaries can provide extra financial help for students on top of your funding. You don't need to pay them back, and you don't need to pay tax on them.
Browse all scholarships and bursaries
Awards for UK and international students
High Performance Sports Scholarship
A scholarship that supports Bath Spa University students who are also competing nationally and internationally in sport.
Porthleven Prize
Open to all students, this prize gives you the chance to collaborate on an exhibition. Successful applicants will participate in a fully-funded residency in Porthleven, Cornwall.
Professional Placement Year Bursary
The aim of this bursary is to make work experience more accessible, providing money which can be used towards placement costs such as travel, food, workwear or accommodation. The bursary is paid in two instalments, and the total amount you receive will depend on which eligibility criteria you meet.
Sanctuary Scholarship
Scholarship for asylum seekers, refugees, and those in UK government's Homes for Ukraine and Ukraine Family Schemes.
Santander Brighter Futures Grant
You can use this grant to help with the cost of living expenses and study resources such as laptops, textbooks and stationery.
Student Opportunities Fund
Created to help you make the most of your time at university, this fund supports projects that enhance your studies and/or future career.
Undergraduate Scholarship
For undergraduate students who have achieved better than predicted or outstanding grades in their A-levels (or equivalent).
Awards for international students
Hall Commonwealth Scholarship
For one undergraduate student from an international commonwealth country to assist them in their studies at Bath Spa University.
International Recruitment Office Scholarship
For high achieving students from outside the UK who are entering undergraduate or postgraduate studies with us.
Latin-America Scholarship in Creativity and Culture
Financial support for students from Latin America who hold an offer for one of our eligible courses, have high academic results and can demonstrate a commitment to creativity, culture and enterprise.
Overseas Emergency Access Fund
Provides financial support for full-time international and EU (pre-settled) students who started study with funding in place to cover tuition and living costs for their course, but have experienced financial difficulty as a result of unforeseen circumstances after they started their studies.
Regional Office Scholarships
For students from China, India, Africa and the Asian Pacific who can demonstrate a commitment to creativity, culture and enterprise.
Royal Commonwealth Society Bath and District Scholarship
Supports two students (undergraduate or postgraduate) from an international commonwealth country with their studies at Bath Spa University.
USA Transfer Scholarship
For international students who have completed the first two years of their undergraduate degree in a USA Community College and want to transfer to Bath Spa to complete their course.
Awards for UK students
Access Fund
Are you facing unexpected financial difficulty? This fund is for undergraduate students receiving a means-tested maintenance loan, and postgraduate students receiving student finance and who have additional income to meet the cost of study (full details available) but who still may need financial help.
Accommodation Bursary
This one-off bursary of £500 will be awarded to eligible students to help pay towards rental payments and other housing-related expenses.
Bath Spa University Bursaries
A grant to help students from under-represented groups with education costs. Eligibility is based on where you live and your household income.
Explore It! Launch It! Grow It!
Our flagship funding programme supports students and graduates at all stages of business development, from ideation to growth, by providing funding, coaching, and skills-based workshops. There are two cohorts each year, one during the academic year and one over the summer.
Grad Support Unit Fund
This fund is designed to help final-year students and recent graduates access financial assistance with the costs that can arise from getting started in your career. It's open to undergraduate or postgraduate students at Bath Spa University or Bath Spa University London. Some additional criteria apply.
Bath Spa University Laptop Fund
The Bath Spa University Laptop Fund provides limited discretionary financial support of up to £500 for Bath Spa students (in Bath or Bath Spa London) who are experiencing financial difficulty and are unable to meet the costs of a laptop from other sources of support.
Placements Award
For undergraduate students who want to support their career aspirations by completing work experience or attending an event.
Professional Placement Year Bursary
Receive £500-£1,500 to support you during your Professional Placement Year.
The Professional Placement Year Bursary is a new award, introduced in 2024. It will be available for the 2024/25 academic year.
Awards for students travelling abroad
Gane Travel Award
Are you a second-year undergraduate within Bath School of Art, Film and Media, or Bath School of Design? This grant helps you travel abroad and study art, design or craftsmanship.
International Travel Fund
Open to current undergraduate and postgraduate students, the fund supports a study trip or work placement abroad, which will have a direct impact on your studies, research and/or career.
Global Horizons Award
An award for undergraduate students who want to undertake an international placement, research or study trip.
Placement Flights Fund
The Placement Flight Fund allows all undergraduate students to claim back the cost of a flight to their chosen destination to complete a placement or internship abroad. You could receive up to £1,000.
Turing Global Dissertation Research Award
A UK Government programme is for students who are going abroad to undertake research for their dissertation. It can cover some of your travel and living expenses.
Turing Scheme Global Placement Grant
This award is aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate students who are going abroad to undertake a work or volunteering placement. The placement must be at least 28 days long, and other criteria apply.
Awards for Bath Spa University alumni
Explore It! Launch It! Grow It!
Our flagship funding programme supports students and graduates at all stages of business development, from ideation to growth, by providing funding, coaching, and skills-based workshops. There are two cohorts each year, one during the academic year and one over the summer.
Freelands Foundation Fellowship
Open to any graduate of Bath Spa who is a practising artist. This fellowship offers studio space within a prestigious art school, a grant, and mentorship.
Grad Support Unit Fund
This fund is designed to help final-year students and recent graduates access financial assistance with the costs that can arise from getting started in your career. It's open to undergraduate or postgraduate students at Bath Spa University or Bath Spa University London. Some additional criteria apply.
Postgraduate Alumni Scholarship
A scholarship for any Bath Spa graduate (undergraduate or PGCE/PGDE) progressing onto a Taught Master's degree. You don't need to apply; we apply this scholarship as a fee waiver.
Awards for Education and Teaching students
Bath Spa University PGCE Bursary
Designed to remove financial barriers to education for students from under-represented groups. Your eligibility for this bursary is based on your location in the UK and your household income.
Gunn Chit Ean Scholarship
The scholarship is awarded annually to a student studying education. The recipient must commit to working in the field for at least two years after receiving the scholarship.
Initial Teacher Training (ITT) bursaries and scholarships
The funding available to you from the Department for Education (DfE) depends on your eligibility, your fee status, the type of course you're studying and when you start.
Awards for Art students
Betty and Peter McLean Prize
All graduating MA Fine Art (Ceramics) students who submit work for the Master's Project module can win this award.
Foundation Progression Scholarship
A scholarship for our Integrated Foundation Year students progressing to an Art or Design degree. No application is necessary. You don't need to apply; we apply this scholarship as a fee waiver.
Gane Travel Award
Are you a second-year undergraduate within Bath School of Art, Film and Media, or Bath School of Design? This grant helps you travel abroad and study art, design or craftsmanship.
Peter Kinley Painting Prize
Open to graduating Fine Art students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The winner will receive a financial prize and be offered a gallery exhibition.
Wilfred Southall Sustainability Awards
This award is for postgraduate students in Bath School of Art, Film and Media and Bath School of Design. It is based on three sustainability categories.
Awards for Design students
Doris Southcott Bursary
An award to support local students aged between 18-25 and studying Fashion Design or Textile Design.
Foundation Progression Scholarship
A scholarship for our Integrated Foundation Year students progressing to an Art or Design degree. No application is necessary. You don't need to apply; we apply this scholarship as a fee waiver.
Gane Travel Award
Are you a second-year undergraduate within Bath School of Art, Film and Media, or Bath School of Design? This grant helps you travel abroad and study art, design or craftsmanship.
Wilfred Southall Sustainability Awards
This award is for postgraduate students in Bath School of Art, Film and Media and Bath School of Design. It is based on three sustainability categories.
Awards for Creative Writing students
The Writing Award
Supports an MA student on our Creative Writing, Nature and Travel Writing or Writing for Young People courses.
Awards for Music students
Taunton Maids Bursary
Supporting students studying music subjects at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, with the amount awarded based on household income.
FAQs
How do scholarships and bursaries work?
The university funds some awards, while governments or external bodies fund others. Some are donated to Bath Spa by former students and their families. You’ll need to apply for many of them, while others are automatic.
You can use these awards in a range of ways, from helping with the cost of living to specific purchases that you need for your studies, such as books and laptops. Others help you make the most of your time at university by funding projects and travel costs for trips.
What's the difference between a bursary and scholarship?
Universities may award students a bursary to help them with the cost of university life. They're often designed to help students from underrepresented groups or low-income households access education. If you’re eligible, you may receive a bursary automatically once you’ve started your studies.
A scholarship is similar, but it’s often awarded to students based on a set of criteria. For example, you may have achieved high grades or demonstrated athletic excellence. Or you may have completed one phase of your Higher Education studies and be ready to progress to the next. You're more likely to need to apply for a scholarship, rather than receiving one automatically.
How do I qualify for a bursary or scholarship?
There are lots of ways to qualify. Eligibility can depend on where you live and your household income, but many are not means-tested. Awards may be based on your talents and abilities. Sometimes you’ll need to explain in your application why you need the money and how it will help you.
You could be eligible for more than one award, so it’s worth exploring the categories that are relevant to you.
How will my award be paid?
If we need to make a payment to you (such as a bursary, award or to reimburse you for expenses that the University has agreed to pay), you'll need to provide your UK bank details.
We can't accept your bank details by email due to financial regulations. Instead, please provide your bank details securely using your student account on the AppHub.
Please ensure you register your bank account details rather than your card details. Please enter your details correctly, as mistakes could mean your money is paid to somebody else.
I can't log into my student account
You may need to reset your password. Please watch the video guide on the IT Services webpage.
What if I need to change my bank details?
You can update your bank details securely using your student account on the AppHub. Please ensure you register your bank account details rather than your card details. Please enter your details correctly, as mistakes could mean your money is paid to somebody else.
What if I don't have a UK bank account?
If you don't have a UK bank account, we can still make payment of your award to you but a different process has to be followed. Please contact the team overseeing the award to let them know and they will be able to advise further.
Access Fund
If you're experiencing financial difficulties, we'd encourage you to apply for the Bath Spa University Access Fund.
This fund has been specifically set up to support you if you're unable to meet your basic costs as a student (such as food, rent, utility bills and travel) or an unexpected cost.
Once we receive your application, we'll assess your financial situation and if you're eligible, we'll make the award direct to your bank account. If you have any questions, please email studentawards@bathspa.ac.uk.
Access Fund
Should I apply for an award?
If you’re eligible to apply for an award, please do. This is money that organisations have set aside to help you. It’s essential that students apply for these grants. If they don't, organisations may feel students don't need the money, but we know they do.
You may be wondering: "What if someone else needs the money more than me?" Where funding is limited, a panel will often decide who will benefit most from the money. Don’t take yourself out of the running too early.
If you have any questions about any of these scholarships and bursaries, please see the 'view details' option in the relevant award link for information on who to contact. To help us respond as efficiently as possible, please make sure your email includes your full name, BSU student ID and the name of the award you're enquiring about.
The Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding
This is a searchable database of funding from the voluntary sector which is accessible to BSU students. To use this resource, choose option one to 'register for a username and password' using your BSU email address.
Search the database