Accessibility statement

Mature Student Scholarship

The Mature Student Scholarship, worth £3,000, is being offered to support first year undergraduate students, who were 25 or over on the first day of their course, with study related costs.

Administration of the Mature Student Scholarships is managed by the Student Financial Support (SFS) team within Student and Academic Services.

Eligibility criteria

You must meet all five of the following essential criteria in order to be considered for a Mature Student Scholarship:

  • You are a UK (home) student
  • You are in your first year of an undergraduate degree awarding programme at the University
  • You were 25 or older on the first day of your undergraduate course at the University
  • You have an assessed household income below £25,000 which has been shared with the University (students who only receive a non-income assessed Maintenance Loan, or have not had their household income assessed, are not eligible to apply)
  • You are on track to progress to your second year of study

You must also meet at least one of the following additional criteria and may be asked to provide evidence of this:

  • You are care experienced
  • You are estranged from your family 
  • You are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community
  • You are from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background
  • You have unpaid caring responsibilities for a family member (who needs support due to an illness, disability, mental health condition or an addiction)
  • You are in the process of fleeing domestic abuse
  • You have a disability or long term health condition
  • You identify as LGBTQ+
  • You are the first generation in your family to go to University
  • You have refugee status 
  • You are from a military or service background
  • You have children
You are exempt from applying for this scholarship if you receive the You are exempt from applying for this scholarship if you receive the NHS Learning Support Fund. Students enrolled on a Degree Apprenticeship, Foundation Year students, part-time students and students currently on a Leave of Absence are also exempt. 
 
HYMS students based at York are welcome to apply if they meet the criteria. 

Students who meet all of the essential and at least one of the additional criteria, as evidenced in their application, will have their application considered by a Panel made up of representatives from across the University. This Panel will decide which of the shortlisted applicants will receive the Mature Student Scholarship.

Payment of the Scholarship

Successful applicants will receive the Mature Student Scholarship in two equal £1,500 instalments - the first instalment is expected to be paid on Friday 28 April 2023 and the second instalment on Friday 28 July 2023. 

It is the responsibility of successful applicants to ensure they have submitted their bank details to the University via our secure submission page. 

It is also the responsibility of the applicant to advise the Mature Student Scholarship team at mature-students-info@york.ac.uk if there is any change to their studies (eg a Leave of Absence or withdrawal) as soon as the change occurs. Applicants should also update their funding provider if their household income changes.

Application guidance

Applications for this year's Mature Student Scholarship will open in the week commencing 20 February 2023 and the closing date for applications will be Friday 10 March 2023.

All first year undergraduate students who were 25 or over on entry to the University will receive an email with key dates and application guidance on Monday 20 February 2023. 

Successful applicants will be required to complete two short statements on the impact of receiving the scholarship. These statements will be used for reporting and promotional purposes. More details about this will be sent to successful applicants.

The information provided in applications will be shared between members of staff at the University who are involved in assessing applications for the Mature Student Scholarship and will be kept for six years (from the end of your relationship with the University) in line with the University's Records Management Policy.

Who to contact for more information

In the first instance please contact Nicola Browne, the University’s dedicated contact for mature students by emailing mature-students-info@york.ac.uk. 

For help and advice, including information on budgeting and alternative sources of support available, please contact our Student Advisers via the online Self-Referral Form.

Apply online for the Mature Student Scholarship