A role to play in transforming our world
We all have a role to play in transforming our world, whether that's fighting inequalities or addressing climate change.
Our research is helping governments target those most in need of warmer & healthier homes.
An estimated 3000 people die in the UK each year because they are unable to heat their home to acceptable levels.
Our research and modelling is helping governments to target those most in need of warmer, healthier homes.
At a Glance
Financial Support for Students
Ulster University offers a range of financial support initiatives to help reduce barriers to higher education for students.
- Financial Hardship Fund: Provides vital assistance to students who are experiencing difficulty in meeting essential living costs due to the financial pressures of university life. It also extends support to students on temporary leave of absence, whether due to ill-health or caring responsibilities, acknowledging the additional financial challenges these situations can present.
- Access Bursary: Students from households with an annual income below £19,203 may be eligible for a bursary equivalent to 10% of their annual tuition fee, supporting them with costs related to their studies.
- Care Leavers Bursary: This bursary is part of a broader package of financial and pastoral support available to students who have spent time in care, helping to ease their transition into university life.
- Accommodation Voucher Scheme: Designed to encourage students from low-income households to access safe and affordable housing, this scheme allows eligible new students in receipt of the Access Bursary to convert it into a voucher towards the cost of university-approved, purpose-built student accommodation.
- Fee waivers: Students may be eligible for tuition fee waivers if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Are aged 16-24 and are not currently in education, employment, or training
- Have an income below £16,190
- Are in receipt of Universal Credit, WTC, DLA, or Carer’s Allowance
- Are care experienced
Scholarships
Ulster University is committed to addressing poverty through education by reducing financial barriers and supporting students from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds.
- The All Ireland Scholarships Scheme provides full tuition fee scholarships to top-performing undergraduate students from low-income households across the island of Ireland.
- The Asylum Seekers' Scholarship offers multiple undergraduate and postgraduate students registered as asylum seekers in Northern Ireland full tuition waivers, along with a £500 annual grant to help with travel and course-related expenses.
- The Choice Scholarships support students who face significant barriers to accessing higher education by providing financial assistance during their studies.
- The Inspire Scholarships aim to increase access for new undergraduate students from households with an income of £22,500 or less, or for those who are care experienced.
- The Ireland Health Care Scholarship Program seeks to build a diverse 21st-century health workforce by supporting students from disadvantaged and non-traditional backgrounds.
- The Liam Kelly Scholarship in Law is available to mature, part-time students from low-income backgrounds enrolled in undergraduate or postgraduate Law courses.
- The Medical Education Scholarships provide vital financial support to students on the Graduate Entry Medicine programme who face personal or financial challenges.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate Ulster University’s contribution to tackling poverty by promoting equal access to quality education and supporting students most in need.
Lifestyle Hubs
The Lifestyle Hubs at Ulster University, located on the Belfast, Coleraine, and Derry~Londonderry campuses, are welcoming spaces designed to support students' everyday wellbeing and financial resilience. These hubs provide access to a wide range of free essential items, including store cupboard food staples, toiletries, and sexual health products, helping to ease the burden of day-to-day living costs. In addition, students can speak directly with the university’s Student Money Coordinators, who are available to offer personalised advice on budgeting, managing money, and accessing any financial support they may be eligible for.
Free Period Products
Ulster University is actively working to eliminate period poverty by providing free period products to both staff and students across its campuses. Free period products are currently available in 22 designated toilet facilities across the University’s Belfast, Coleraine, and Derry~Londonderry campuses, alongside the Jordanstown Sports Village. This provision aims to support those in need, reduce stigma, and foster a more equitable and supportive campus environment.
Education for Ending Poverty
Ulster University offers studies in social policy, community development, and peacebuilding. Programs focus on understanding the causes of poverty and inequality, equipping students with skills to develop effective policies and interventions. Additionally, courses explore how conflict influences poverty and teaches strategies for peacebuilding and social justice. They prepare graduates to contribute to reducing poverty and promoting social equity locally and globally.
Scholarships
Scholarships and funding opportunities are available to support your studies.
Social Justice Institute
The Social Justice Institute brings together academics and others with expertise to collaborate on world-leading research on social justice. They combine traditional legal research with ground-breaking interdisciplinary methods to tackle entrenched problems of poverty, access to justice, human trafficking, immigration and asylum. They work in partnership with individuals, communities and organisations directly connected to the problems of social injustice, to develop research and policy that advances the principles of dignity, respect, empowerment, human rights and sustainability.
Research for Ending Poverty
A focus on public sector transformation in NI
This report by Ulster University researchers examines structural challenges in Northern Ireland’s public services and the implications for social protection and economic inclusion. The report explores how evolving public finances and service delivery models affect the ability of low-income households to access essential support. By providing evidence-based analysis, it informs policy transformation efforts aimed at strengthening social safety nets and targeting resources toward those most at risk of poverty.
COVID-19 lived experiences among informal settlement dwellers in the Global South
This review by Ulster University researchers highlights the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on residents of informal settlements. The study synthesises findings from 34 studies, revealing that inadequate social protection measures, such as cash transfers and food aid, often failed to reach the most vulnerable populations. Despite possessing knowledge about COVID-19 preventive behaviours, many dwellers faced significant socioeconomic, health-related, and physical challenges due to lockdown measures. These findings underscore the need for inclusive, effective, and accessible social protection systems to address the needs of marginalized communities during health crises.
Insecure lives: the growth and impact of multiple insecurities
The report by Ulster University researchers examines the rise of overlapping insecurities such as financial, housing, health, and employment among UK adults. The study reveals that, by 2022/23, 9% of adults experienced combined insecurities, the highest in the study period, with disproportionately high rates among disabled individuals, lone parents, and those in deprived areas. The report attributes this increase to the cumulative effects of austerity, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis, compounded by policy withdrawals. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policy interventions, including investment in affordable housing, healthcare, and income support, to reduce these insecurities and promote social well-being.
To find out more about the research at Ulster University that contributes to SDG 1: No Poverty, visit PURE
