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Bursaries and scholarships

Bursaries for current students

All UK and EU undergraduate students are automatically assessed for York bursaries 
each year. This includes the York Bursary, HYMS Bursary and Care Leaver Bursary.

You do not have to apply for an undergraduate bursary. We use the assessment of household income carried out by Student Finance to automatically assess students for bursary eligibility. 

We will start to approve the bursaries from the end of September, and will notify you by email to your University account if you've been awarded a bursary. You should only get in touch if you have not heard from us by the end of October. 

A bursary is not a loan - you don't have to pay it back. Bursaries are for undergraduate UK and EU students only.

Bursary schemes can vary, depending on the year you started your studies. If you are receiving a York Bursary, Foundation Year Bursary, HYMS Bursary or Care Leaver Bursary, you can find detailed information about your scheme in the following guides:

Guide for current students

Guides for students who started prior to 2020/21

If you require earlier copies of the York Bursaries Guide, please contact sfsu@york.ac.uk

Receiving your award

If you are made an award, you will have received a notification email and an award letter in your e:Vision account.

Submit your bank details to receive cash payments

In order to receive any bursary cash payment, submit your bank details using the University’s secure bank detail collection system using your University username and password. We accept both UK and overseas bank accounts and you can use the system to update your details should you change bank. Please note, this system is for bursary payments only. If you need to update your bank details for direct debit collections, please do this using the 'Your finance' section in e:Vision (see Payment methods).

If you do not submit your details, we will not be able to pay you.

Please note that not all awards include cash payments. Please refer to the guides for more details on how your bursary will be paid.

Payment dates

For the 2020/21 academic year, bursaries will be paid on the following dates:

Payment type

Payment method

Payment dates

Tuition fee waiver

Reduction in your tuition fees                 

We inform your student funding provider automatically when your award is approved and they alter your loan accordingly.

Accommodation payment (if you're a first year student in University accommodation)

Applied directly to your accommodation fees

Three equal instalments reducing each accommodation fee charge on:

Friday 9 October 2020
Friday 6 January 2021
Friday 9 April 2021

For example, if you owe £1,800 for a term's rent and are going to receive an accommodation payment of £500 then you will only need to pay £1,300 that term. If you pay your accommodation fees by direct debit, the fees minus the bursary will automatically be taken from your account, and will stop you from accidentally overpaying.

Cash payment

Payment direct to your bank account

Friday 23 October 2020
Friday 5 February 2021
Friday 14 May 2021

Discussing your award

We cannot discuss a case with anyone other than you. If you want someone else (including parents or carers) to discuss your bursary on your behalf, you will need to give the Student Financial Support Unit written permission. Please note we cannot disclose any detailed household income information to anyone.

Bursaries and scholarships for continuing students

There are also additional bursaries and scholarships administered by the University available for students once they have started their studies at York. Please check eligibility criteria before applying. Assessments for all University Bursaries begin in Week 1 and we aim to email all students awarded a Bursary by the end of Week 5.

ScholarshipsAward / eligibilityApplication deadlineHow to apply
Laidlaw Scholarship
  • An opportunity for students to undertake a unique research project and an innovative and accredited leadership development programme
  • For undergraduate students in their first year of a three year degree or in the first or second year of a four year degree 
 Opens on 12 November 2020
York Futures Scholarship
  • Funds students to access opportunities that give them a head start in the job market
  • For full time students studying for an undergraduate, integrated masters or postgraduate taught degree who meet certain criteria
  • Awards of £250, £1,000, £3,000 and £6,000 are available, depending on the opportunity 

Round one, apply between:

  • Monday 5 October 2020 to Monday 9 October 2020.

Round two, apply between:

  • Monday 22 March 2021 to Monday 26 April 2021.
Please note that the application form is not available outside of the application window. 
Mature Student Scholarship Supports first year undergraduate students, who were 25 or over on the first day of their course, with study related costs.
  • Apply between Monday 22 February and Friday 12 March.

Please note that the application form is not available outside of the application window.

Postgraduate research students

See information about research funding on the York Graduate Research School pages.

Other bursaries and scholarships

Some external organisations offer scholarships through the University. See their websites for full eligibility criteria. 

Awarding organisationAward / eligibility
Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust
  • For UK students whose parent or spouse is a commercial traveller, grocer or chemist
  • Up to £3,000 per year for undergraduates
  • Up to £5,000 per year for postgraduates

Got a great idea for a project and looking for funding?

Did you know that University of York alumni fund schemes to help support your project ideas? Find out more about project funding.

Who to contact

For bursary related enquiries, please contact:

  • Student Financial Support 
    +44 (0)1904 324043
    sfsu@york.ac.uk
    (Office hours: Monday to Friday, 10am - 4pm)

For other financial queries, please see the relevant contact details.