Grants, bursaries and scholarships

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

This is a non-repayable grant to support students requiring a diagnostic assessment, DSA contribution, medical evidence fee, and the Blue Badge student parking scheme. Please note, this is a contribution to your costs as we cannot cover them in full.

Eligibility criteria

• Full-time and part-time UK home and eligible EU* students (undergraduate and postgraduate) in receipt of the 2022/23 maximum entitlement of undergraduate maintenance loan/postgraduate loan and have received the first instalment.
• International, Channel Island, IOM students, and apprentices are not eligible to apply.

* Students with settled status

When and how to apply

Current students

• Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.
• Access Solent will provide you with a link to the online application form.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

What happens once your form is submitted

• You will receive an email to your university account notifying you of the result of your application. A decision should be made within 2-3 working weeks of submission.
• When you have arranged your diagnostic assessment, please email student.funding@solent.ac.uk with your assessment date and let us know when you have attended.
• The funds will be released to you after your assessment paid by BACS into your UK bank account (which you must provide, as shown on the application form).

Any queries, please call: 023 8201 5200 or email: student.funding@solent.ac.uk

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

The financial support grant is a non-repayable grant for students who are in financial hardship.

What can it help with?

It can help towards:

• Living costs
• Childcare
• Travel
• Accommodation
• Household expenses
• Books and course equipment

Please note, this list is not exhaustive.

Unfortunately, the grant cannot help pay towards tuition fees or those who have just mismanaged their finances.

For students who have the non-means tested part of the maintenance loan due to their high household income, we cannot fully compensate for the lack of parental contribution, but students are still encouraged to apply.

Who can apply for the support grant?

Students enrolled on a course for 2022/23 at Solent University and are:

• Full-time/part-time (undergraduate or postgraduate) UK 'home' or eligible EU* students, in receipt of their full entitlement of maintenance or postgraduate loan.
• All students must have received the first payment of their full entitlement of maintenance loan/funding.
• International, Channel Island, IOM, and apprenticeship students cannot apply.

* students with settled status

When can I apply?

Current students

Students can ONLY apply from:

• Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.
• Support grant guidance and assessment notes

How to submit an application form

IMPORTANT: In order for the panel to fully understand your financial situation and to check your supporting documents, you must see a Solent funding adviser in person via our daily drop-in at the Student Hub (8.30am-5pm Monday-Thursday, 8.30am-4.30pm Friday).

Please allow at least three working days after submitting your online application form before attending the in-person drop-in. Your application will not be assessed until you have attended the drop-in. If you have difficulty in attending the daily drop-in, please contact us at student.funding@solent.ac.uk in the first instance.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

EU and international students

If you are experiencing a short-term financial emergency which is unforeseen and beyond your control, please contact the Student Funding Team at student.funding@solent.ac.uk. You will need to demonstrate that you had initially made adequate financial arrangements to support yourself throughout your studies, including paying your tuition fees, and that your current situation is temporary.

Can I appeal the decision?

If you are unhappy with the result of your support grant application you can appeal the decision. You can contact the chair of the panel, Joanna Wakely, by emailing student.funding@solent.ac.uk

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Students who have been assessed by the UK Government Student Finance as ‘Independent on the basis of irreconcilable estrangement’ can apply to the University’s Estranged students' bursary each academic year.

This is a non-repayable bursary of £1,500 awarded to students who continue to be estranged from their parents while they are studying at university. They must be in receipt of a maintenance loan.

It is paid in instalments directly into the student’s bank account over the academic year.

Who can apply?

• UK ‘home’, full-time undergraduate students who have been assessed as Independent on the basis of “Irreconcilable Estrangement”
• EU students (with Settled Status) who fulfil the UK residency criteria and who have been assessed as Independent on the basis of “Irreconcilable Estrangement”

How do I apply?

Current students

• Please print off and complete the estranged bursary application form.
• Please follow the instructions on the form on how to submit it.
• You must show how you are irreconcilably estranged and Student Finance England has assessed you as such.
• Please ensure you provide the evidence as requested on the form.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

When can I apply?

• You can apply any time during the academic year.
• Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.
• You may only apply once during an academic year.
• Applicants will be notified by email within three working weeks.
• Continuing students who remain estranged can contact the Student Funding team to reapply: student.funding@solent.ac.uk

For more information on estrangement please read our leaflet or go to the Standalone website which offers support to people affected by estrangement.

You may also be eligible to apply for more funds featured on this page.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Students who are carers for their parents/immediate family member (excluding children) may be able to apply to the University’s carers' bursary each academic year.

This is a non-repayable bursary of £1,200 per year awarded to carers who continue to have caring responsibilities while they are studying at university. It is paid in instalments over the academic year directly into the student’s bank account.

Who can apply?

• UK ‘home’, full-time undergraduate students who have taken out at least the maximum maintenance loan.
• UK ‘home’ and EU, full-time postgraduate students who have taken out the maximum postgraduate loan.
• EU, full-time undergraduate students who fulfil the UK residency criteria and who have taken out at least the minimum maintenance loan.

How do I apply?

Current students

• Please complete the carers' bursary application form.
• Please follow the instructions on the application form on how to submit it.
• You must show how you are still a carer whilst studying and may be invited for a further meeting or phone call.
• Please ensure you provide the evidence as requested on the form.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

When can I apply?

• You can apply any time during the academic year.
• Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.
• You may only apply once during an academic year.
• Applicants will be notified in writing within three weeks.
• Continuing students who are still carers can reapply by contacting the Student Funding Team.

You may also be eligible to apply for more funds featured on this page.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

This is a non-repayable bursary for students with children who are in receipt of the Student Finance Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) / or child benefit (if postgraduate). Successful applicants will be awarded a one-off payment of £300 for the academic year 2021/22.

Eligibility criteria

• UK and eligible EU* students and are:
  • Undergraduates in receipt of the maximum maintenance loan they are entitled to, together with the Parents’ Learning Allowance, or
  • Postgraduates in receipt of their maximum postgraduate loan and child benefit.
• students with settled status

How and when to apply

Current students

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Complete the online application form

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

The University is keen to help new foundation and first-year students who need financial support to buy IT equipment (laptops and tablets) so you can access your learning.

We have therefore launched a technology bursary for eligible students to receive a £400 gift voucher to purchase IT equipment from Currys PC World.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible students must:

• be a new foundation year or year 1 undergraduate student in 2022 (not a returning student)
• be a full time UK or eligible EU* student (undergraduates only), and
• have a household income of less than £25,000 and receive the maximum maintenance loan, and
• their home address prior to starting at Solent University (ie, admissions address) must be in a POLAR 4 Quintile 1 or 2 area. You can check whether you are eligible by putting your postcode into this checker provided by the Office for Students.

*students with settled status

How and when to apply

Current students

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Complete the online application form

A decision should be made within two working weeks of submission. Successful applicants will receive an email to their university account  of the result and when to collect their gift voucher. 

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

The unpaid placement support grant is means-tested and available to support students who have been offered a short-term unpaid placement.

Placements must last a minimum of 10 working days (or 100 hours) and a maximum of 20 working days.

If it is slightly longer than this (not a full year placement*) students may still apply but only the maximum of 20 working days will be considered.

Please be aware if you are undertaking a long-term* unpaid placement this will affect your ability to work and the fund cannot cover your costs.

The fund is limited and unfortunately, not all applications can be successful. Awards are a contribution to your costs and cannot cover them 100%.

Placements taken outside of the UK will affect the level of award you may receive.

Eligibility criteria

• Full-time UK ‘home’ and EU students (UG and PG) can apply.
• UK students MUST have applied for their full entitlement and received the FIRST instalment of their maintenance/postgrad loan
• International, Channel Island / IOM, and part-time students cannot apply.

How to apply

Current students

Complete the online application form

Applications* will ONLY be accepted from:

• Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023**.
• You may only apply once during your course.
• Applicants will be notified to their university email within two to three working weeks.

** If you arrange your placement after the closing date but it's before 31 August 2023, please contact student.funding@solent.ac.uk for advice.

Evidence required

• Undergraduate students must provide evidence of their full UK funding entitlement which includes their maintenance loan* for 2022/23.
• Postgraduate students should provide evidence of their postgraduate loan* for 2022/23.
• Undergraduate EU students should provide evidence (showing name and customer reference number) of their tuition fee loan and how they are covering their living costs.
• You must provide proof of the placement on official headed paper/email from the employer.
• It must:
• detail the dates of the work experience,
• state that it is unpaid and
• state whether any expenses are paid by the company eg, travel, lunch etc.

• Please provide proof of travel costs/any additional costs (eg, rent) you may have, if not covered by the employer.
• If you usually work part-time please provide proof of 'loss of earnings' due to doing your placement (eg, payslip)
• You must provide photocopies of all evidence, as originals will not be returned.
• All placements must have started after 1 September 2022 and be completed by 31 August 2023.
• We cannot backdate awards for the previous year.

*These must show your name and customer reference number.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

If you have any queries regarding the fund please contact the student funding team.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

This is a non-repayable grant for students whose course has compulsory course costs or Final Major Projects (FMP) - this includes your compulsory course costs so you can only apply once per academic year.  

Please check your course page on the University website for costs which has come from your course team.

If you are in a group doing an FMP, all eligible students will need to apply individually for their share of the costs. You cannot apply on one form as a group.

• The grant is not for general costs, such as books, stationery, etc.
• It can only provide a contribution towards your costs; it cannot cover them 100%.
• Previous years' compulsory course costs will not be considered.

Examples of compulsory costs are:

• Course-specific equipment eg, make-up/hair kit, photography equipment, specialist software, uniforms/sports kit, etc.
• Course trips eg, gallery, theatre, and field trips within the UK and EU.
• Professional memberships/body endorsements and related exam fees (eg, NCTJ/REPs).
• Final major project (FMP) costs for final year students.

Who can apply?

• Full-time and part-time UK home and eligible EU* students (undergraduate and postgraduate) in receipt of their 2022/23 maximum entitlement undergraduate maintenance loan/postgraduate loan and have received the first instalment.
• International students are not eligible to apply.

* students with settled status

How and when to apply

Current students

Complete the online application form

Applications will ONLY be accepted from:

• Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.
• A decision should be made within two to three working weeks of submission.
• You will receive an email to your University email, notifying you of the result of your application.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

If you have any questions please contact a student funding adviser.

The graduation bursary is to assist final-year students who are financially disadvantaged and to help towards the costs of graduation.

• The award is up to £75 and is non-repayable.
• Applications will be means tested based on the level of government maintenance loan received.

Eligibility criteria

• Full-time ‘home fee’ undergraduates
• EU (pre-settlement), international, Channel Island/IOM, and part-time students are not eligible to apply.
• Undergraduate students MUST have applied for the maximum entitlement for which they are eligible of their 2022/23 maintenance loan.
• We cannot pay any award until exam results are known and published on 23 June and graduation has been booked. Therefore, any costs will need to be paid by you before you know the result of your application. For more information on registering go to: solent.ac.uk/graduation

How to apply

Complete the online application form

Deadline for applications

Deadline for submitting applications is 11.59pm Friday 23 June 2023.

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE CLOSING TIME.

You will be notified of the result of your application via your University email the week beginning 3 July 2023.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Due to the rising costs of utilities (gas and electricity) for students in the private rented sector/with a mortgage, we are able to provide an additional utilities bursary of up to £200 for those on low household incomes (household incomes under £25,000).

Please ensure you meet the eligibility criteria, below, before you apply.

Eligibility criteria

Eligible students must:

• be living in private rented accommodation or have a mortgage/owed property,
• have a household income under £25,000 a year and in receipt of the maximum maintenance loan from Student Finance,
• be responsible for the utility bills.

Please note - This bursary is not available for students in university halls, private sectors halls of residence, or those with rent inclusive of bills in the private rented sector.

You can contact us by email if you have any problems: student.funding@solent.ac.uk.

When to apply

Current students

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Complete the online application form

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Once you have completed the application form (and you have provided the necessary evidence), you will be assessed for the bursary and notified at your university email address.

If successful, you will receive the payment in instalments over the academic year, providing you remain on your course.

Please contact the Student Funding Team if you need more information.

The summer support grant opens during the summer break each year if funds are still available. The opening and deadline dates are on the application form.

The eligibility criteria remains the same as for the support grant (above).

The grant is for continuing students who are in receipt of state benefits or who have been affected and are unable to work due to:

• Caring for dependants, or
• Have a disability/medical circumstances, or
• Have genuine reasons which are beyond their control eg, self-isolating, sudden illness, lack of work, unforeseen circumstances.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Solent University is committed to supporting students who have been in local authority care. We offer a bursary each year to care leavers.

Our support package includes:

• £1,500 bursary per year, for the duration of your course (that does not need to be repaid),
• an extended halls contract, to provide accommodation all year round,
• care leavers are recognised as a priority group as part of the University's admissions procedure for contextual offers,
• a designated member of staff for additional support,
• inclusion on the 'on-track' scheme and an optional personal support key worker,
• financial health check to ensure you are receiving all the funding you are entitled to, and
• possible further financial support from the University's other grants.

Eligibility

• you must be under 25 on 1 September of the first day of the course
• are or have been looked after by any Local Authority for a period of thirteen weeks or more after the age of fourteen and before your 18th birthday
• Applied for your maintenance loan for 2021/22

How do I apply?

Current students

Please complete the care leavers bursary form.

You can also contact us via this email or phone: 023 8201 5200 if you have any problems.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Once you have completed the application form (and you have provided the necessary evidence), you will be assessed for the bursary and notified at your university email address.

If successful, you will receive the payment in instalments over the academic year, providing you remain on your course.

Please contact the Student Funding Team if you need more information.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Solent University is committed to the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater Community (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge. The University recognises the unique individual experiences of GTRSB students and how these may inhibit access and participation in higher education. The University has introduced this bursary to provide additional financial and pastoral support to GTRSB students.

If you’re from the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater community, we will offer you a bursary of £500 in each year of study.

Eligibility criteria

To be eligible you must:

• disclose ethnicity of GTRSB on your UCAS application form or to the University upon enrolment,
• be enrolled on a full-time undergraduate degree,
• be a home UK student or have settled status paying £9,250 fees, and
• have a household income less than £25,000 and receive the maximum maintenance loan.

When and how to apply

Current students

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Complete the online application form

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Applications are now closed for 2022/23 and will reopen in October 2023.

Here at Solent University, we provide additional support to students who have lived in Foyer Federation/supported accommodation.

We offer a non-income assessed annual bursary of £1,500 for home (UK) undergraduate students studying full time who:

• are under 25 on the first day of the course (1 September), and
• are currently living or have previously lived in supported accommodation or a Foyer Federation.
• In most cases, students must have spent a significant period of time living in this type of accommodation for reasons related to their physical or mental wellbeing.

Full information is available in our leaflet:

Funding for care leavers, Foyer Federation, supported accommodation (currently being updated)

How do I apply?

Current students

• Please complete the Foyer/supported accommodation bursary application form.
• Once you have completed the application form (and you have provided the necessary evidence), you will be assessed for the bursary. Please contact the student funding team at student.funding@solent.ac.uk with your application.
• If successful, you will receive the payment in instalments over the academic year providing you remain on your course.

2023/24 applicants

Applicants for September 2023/24 entry should apply for this bursary through the applicant portal. You will need your applicant user name and password to log in.

Please contact the Student Funding Team if you need more information.

Applications for 2023/24 are now open

Are you a student from an ‘SO’ or ‘PO’ admissions address postcode and/or attended one of our partner colleges?

If so, you could be eligible to apply for a £1,000 local student bursary to support your studies at Solent.

The Local Student Bursary Scheme is entirely funded by alumni (former Solent students), staff and friends of Solent University, and it is through their kind donations that we can support local students. This year approximately 30 bursaries are available for undergraduate students studying at Solent University.

How do I apply?

• Complete the Local Student Bursary Scheme application form.
• The deadline for applications is 4.30pm on Friday 15 December 2023.
• You will be notified in February 2024 of the result of your application via your University email. If you are successful, the bursary is made in two £500 payments for one academic year only.

Please contact the Student Funding Team if you need more information.

Scholarships can be given for a number of reasons and are designed to support you through your studies by helping with general living costs. They are non-repayable and can be spent on anything from rent and household bills to books and specialist equipment. 

You are only eligible for one bursary or scholarship type in any single year. Full details are on the Solent website.

For more information on any of the scholarships, please contact ask@solent.ac.uk.

From September 2020, annual payments of at least £5,000 have been available for all undergraduate and postgraduate students from eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health courses.

The funding has been confirmed by the UK Government as part of its pledge to increase nurse numbers by 50,000 over the next five years.

Every student nurse studying or starting an eligible course in September 2020 (including students in years 2 and 3) will receive at least £5,000 a year, with up to £3,000 further funding available for:

• specialist disciplines that struggle to recruit, including mental health
• an additional childcare allowance, on top of the £1,000 already on offer to students
• areas of the country which have seen a decrease in people accepted on some nursing, midwifery and allied health courses over the past year

This bursary funding will not need to be repaid. Students will also be able to continue to access the funding for tuition and maintenance loans from the Student Loans Company.

For more information about the announcement, including eligibility check the NHS careers website. For further updates when they are available, visit the UK government website.

A non-repayable bursary of £200 is available to students who are on apprenticeship courses to assist with the costs of attending university. To be eligible students must have home fee status, be enrolled as an apprentice and have a household income under £25000 per annum.

A non-repayable means-tested grant is available to students who require extra financial support to help meet costs which are not already being met from other statutory courses of funding, or who have an unexpected financial crisis.

To be eligible, students must have m fee status, be enrolled on a full-time undergraduate course, and receive the maximum maintenance loan they are eligible for.

Students must have received the first loan instalment before applying.

Please note: EU students with pre-settlement/international students are not eligible to apply.