Scholarships and bursaries for undergraduates
In December 2010, the UK Government voted to raise tuition fees for
English universities to a maximum of £9,000 per year, amid budget cuts to
institutions’ teaching budgets. These changes only apply to UK and EU
students wishing to study at a university in England, who are new entrants
to the university system from 2012 onwards.
We will be charging £9,000 a year for all our undergraduate courses
starting in 2012 and have developed a comprehensive package of bursaries and
scholarships to ensure we remain accessible to all our students with the
potential to succeed, regardless of their financial circumstances.
We have also decided to abolish the tuition fee for students spending a
full year abroad studying or on an employer placement and introduced this
opportunity into the majority of our courses as we believe this experience
enhances your learning and widens your opportunities upon graduation. Note
this fee-waiver only applies to students on a 4yr degree.
You can use our
scholarship
finder to find out about funding opportunities that are available. Some
of our main scholarships and bursaries are outlined below:
University of Essex Bursary Scheme
Our University of Essex Bursary scheme is worth £1,500 per year, for
every year of study, if you meet the eligibility criteria. You must:
- be a UK (home fees) student;
- have an annual household income of up to £25,000;
- meet the conditions of your offer;
- accept our University’s offer of a place firmly by the relevant UCAS
deadline; and
- register for a full-time Bachelors degree at the University of
Essex, with first enrolment in 2012-13.
If you are taking a year abroad or an industrial placement, you will not
be eligible for a bursary during that year as no tuition fee will be charged
and other bursary support is available. Students on courses whose tuition
fees are paid in full by the East of England Strategic Health Authority are
not eligible for the University of Essex Bursary. Please see the
Bursary terms and
conditions (.pdf).
How do I apply?
If you have applied for state support through Student Finance England and
met all the criteria, you will automatically be awarded a bursary. Payments
will normally be made in two equal instalments in February and May.
National Scholarship Programme (NSP)
This is an accommodation subsidy of £3,000 for identified
University-owned accommodation for 200 students. This covers the first year
of your study, if you meet the national and University eligibility criteria.
You must:
- be ordinarily resident in England;
- have an annual household income of up to £20,000 (as assessed by SFE and available to the University by 10 August 2012);
- register for a full-time Bachelors degree at the University of
Essex, with first enrolment in 2012-13;
- be in the first year of your study at our University;
- apply to the University of Essex through UCAS by 29 June 2012;
- apply to the University of Essex for the NSP accommodation subsidy by
29 June 2012; and
- apply for accommodation at the University by the published
accommodation application deadline.
Under the national eligibility criteria of the NSP, you are not eligible
for the NSP regardless of meeting the above criteria if you are:
- an NHS-funded student;
- a student funded by the Training and Development Agency for Schools;
- a student directly continuing from one course to another (for
example from a foundation degree or HND on to the final year of your
honours degree);
- a student transferring from another institution;
- a student undertaking a postgraduate qualification;
- a part-time student studying at less than 25 per cent intensity of
the full-time equivalent; or
- any other students whose fees are paid or part-paid through a
sponsorship arrangement.
How do I apply?
You must apply directly to our University to be considered for the NSP accommodation subsidy.
Applications must be submitted by Friday 29 June 2012.
You must also apply for University-owned accommodation by the published accommodation deadline
in order to be considered. You will be able to apply for accommodation from 6 June 2012.
Academic Excellence Scholarships
Our Academic Excellence Scholarship is worth £2,000 for each year of your study at Essex,
if you meet the eligibility criteria. You must:
- be a UK (home fees) student;
- achieve AAB at A-level (or equivalent), or
- three distinctions in your BTEC National Diploma
- 35 points or more in your International Baccalaureate
- 18 level three credits at Distinction and 27 level three credits at Merit in the Access to HE Diploma
Certain combinations of the above qualifications may be acceptable, see the
Academic Excellence Scholarship terms and
conditions (.pdf) for details;
- register for a full-time Bachelors degree at the University of Essex, with first
enrolment in 2012-13; and
- achieve an overall pass rate of 60 per cent during your studies at Essex.
How do I apply?
If you meet the criteria for award of the Academic Excellence
Scholarship, you will be identified by our Undergraduate Admissions Office
and informed in writing that you have been successful in obtaining this
scholarship. Payments will normally be made in two equal instalments in
February and May. Please see the
Academic Excellence Scholarship terms and conditions (.pdf).
Other bursaries
Care Leavers’ Bursaries
The Care Leavers’ Bursaries are of up to £1,000 and are available for new
and continuing undergraduate students who were in local authority care prior
to starting their university course.
How do I apply?
You should apply using the main
Access to Learning Fund form and supply all required documentation.
Refugee Bursaries
Refugee Bursaries, of up to £1,000, are available for undergraduates with
refugee status, or who are dependants of refugees.
How do I apply?
You should apply using the main
Access to Learning Fund form and supply all required documentation.
International Study and International Experience Bursaries
If you are from a low income household, you may be eligible for funding to access
opportunities for study abroad, international placement or volunteering during your degree.
How do I apply?
For further information contact our Study Abroad Office.