Financial Support for Students
Information about financial support for students
Ulster University offers a wide range of bursaries, scholarships, awards and prizes as well as an extensive portfolio of outreach targeted activities, initiatives and programmes delivered in partnership with schools, communities and employers specifically for individuals and groups from under represented areas.
University policies for the disbursement of direct financial support to students arising from regulatory compliance with the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.
The polices have been overseen by the Widening Access and Community Engagement Sub-Committee and have been operational for many years. The new Fair Access, Participation and Student Success Sub-Committee will update these in 2018/19.
They include:
Access Bursary (see https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/bursaries)
Eligible students will receive a bursary of 10% of the annual student fee to help meet the costs associated with their course. Bursaries, like grants, do not have to be repaid.
Care Leavers’ Bursary ( see https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/bursaries)
The Care Leavers Bursary of £1,000 per annum forms part of a comprehensive suite of financial and non-financial support under the ‘Fostering Aspirations’ banner. The Bursaries are available to students with a background of care and include access to year-round accommodation and assistance with the application process.
Accommodation Voucher
The Accommodation Voucher scheme has been introduced in pilot during 2018/19 to encourage students from lower income households to apply for university-approved purpose built student accommodation. Eligible students will have their Access Bursary (currently of value £416) converted to an accommodation voucher of £1,000.
Fund for International Travel (see http://addl.ulster.ac.uk/wap/wa)
The Fund for International travel provides on-course support to widening access students with a focus on outward mobility and experiencing cultures, environments and countries other than that of their domicile and socio-economic background and without which the financial hurdles are prohibitive.
Fee Waivers (see http://addl.ulster.ac.uk/wap/wa)
Ulster's Flexible Education framework supports access by enabling participation by students of a widening access background to achieve and accumulate academic credit that can lead to University awards in a way that suits their individual circumstances. The Fee Waivers apply to individual modules and are offered to overcome financial barriers of participation.
| Award | Value | No of Awards | Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|
Access Bursary | 10% of student fee (ie £416 in 2018/19) | Unlimited | Students must:
Note: Students on the Nursing degree, all Allied Health degrees, and NI students on the Social Work degree are not eligible as additional government support is available for such students. |
| Care Leavers Bursary | £1,000 | Unlimited | Full-time undergraduate students leaving care, or who have spent time in care for a period of three months, are eligible. Students are advised that when applying through UCAS that it is important they tick the box which asks if they have been in care. For further information concerning the UCAS Tick the Box campaign, go to https://www.fostering.net/policy-and-campaigns/campaigns/tick-the-box#.VhwdAkaD4dU. |
| Accommodation Voucher (currently in pilot phase for one year only) | £1,000 | 50 | This award is only open to students new to the University who have applied for and accepted University-approved accommodation and also meet the criteria for the Access Bursary. The support is in the form of credit to accommodation costs Note: this award is in place of the Access Bursary and is not in addition to it. |
| Fund for International Travel | Fund for International Travel | Dependent on available resource | There are two elements to the Fund for International Travel: 1. University-approved placements to support international travel to enable students to take advantage of work experience opportunities associated with their studies; and 2. University-arranged International visits to partner institutions. The award contributes to the set up costs for widening access students. To be eligible, applicants must be a full-time undergraduate registered student at Ulster University, NI domiciled for a period of 3 years or more and must also meet at least one, usually more than one, of the following criteria:
|
| Fee Waivers | Up to £500 (£85k annually) | Dependent on available resource | Applicants must be a Northern Ireland resident and also meet at least one of the following criteria:
|
| Approval and Review | Details |
|---|---|
| Authority | SLT |
| Authorising Committee | Fair Access, Participation and Success Sub Committee |
| Policy Revision | Prof Brian Murphy, Director of Access, Digital and Distributed Learning |
| Policy Ownership | Policy Officer – Mrs Barbara Hunter) |
Dates Draft Approved (FAPSSC) Amendment | ... 8th October 2018 … ... |
Dedicated to maintaining the University's position as a sector leader in widening access to higher education.
Dedicated to maintaining the University's position as a sector leader in widening access to higher education.
