Undergraduate bursaries and scholarships for underrepresented groups - applications open

11 Mar 2025

The University offers a range of financial support packages to help students to access and succeed at University, regardless of their background.

Some of these awards are allocated automatically when students meet our eligibility criteria and there is no limit to the number of award recipients. This includes our Undergraduate Access Scholarship and The Manchester Bursary. 

Our other bursaries and scholarships, funded by our generous donors and alumni, are selective, with limited awards available. With these awards, students must apply directly to the bursaries and scholarships that they are eligible for.

Our selective bursaries and scholarships have launched this week, with applications to the following, now open:

Undergraduate Awards

Bursary for Care Experienced students 

• The Sadler Bursary offers £10,000 per year, to 12 care experienced students starting an undergraduate degree in September 2025. 

Scholarships for Black, UK students 

• The Raheem Sterling Foundation Scholarship covers the tuition fees and provides £8,000 per year to Black, British students from Greater Manchester. 
• The Cowrie Foundation Scholarship covers the tuition fees and provides £6,000 per year to Black, British students from low-income backgrounds across the UK. 

Bursary for students from low-income backgrounds studying Social Sciences course 

• The Elizabeth Moley bursary provides £8,000 per year, to students who were eligible for free school meals whilst at secondary school. 
• Alongside the financial support package, students are also provided with transition support, information workshops, community building activity, and a named contact to support them during their university journey.

Applications for these four awards will close on Sunday 27 April at 11:59PM. 

Accommodation Bursary for students from lower income backgrounds

• The University of Manchester Accommodation Bursary aims to ease the cost of living pressures for students from lower income backgrounds by offering an accommodation fee discount of £2050 for students living in University Halls of Residence. In 2025 there are 150 bursaries available. 

Applications for the accommodation bursary will close on Sunday 20 July at 11:59PM. 

Postgraduate Awards

Bursary for Masters students 

• The Manchester Masters Bursary provides a bursary of £4,000 for one year, to 125 students that meet our widening participation eligibility criteria. This year, there are 125 awards available. 

Applications for the Manchester Masters Bursary will close on Sunday 1 June at 11:59PM. 

Please can all staff share these opportunities with prospective students, offer holders and relevant internal and external contacts. 

• For more information, please contact Abbie Hyde; abbie.mountford@manchester.ac.uk.