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Scholarships and bursaries explained

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Scholarships and bursaries are additional sources of financial support. Unlike student loans, these don't need to be paid back, so applying is a no-brainer. We caught up with Alan Cook, our Scholarships and Bursaries Officer, to learn more about our scholarships and bursaries, how to find out what you could be eligible for, and most importantly, how to apply. Here’s what he told us:

Which scholarships and bursaries can I apply for?

If you’re starting your university journey at Sunderland this year, you could be eligible for:

University of Sunderland Scholarships 2023/24

This scholarship recognises academic achievements, rewarding students with the highest increase between their GCSE grades and their Level 3 qualifications (such as A Levels or BTEC) results. So, if you didn’t achieve what you expected in your GCSEs but are back on track with your Level 3 qualifications, you could be one of 130 students we reward. If successful, you’ll receive £3,000, in the form of £2,400 StudyPlus credit and £600 cash. This will be awarded in three termly instalments during academic years 1, 2 and 3.

University of Sunderland Bursaries 2023/24

We offer generous bursaries to under-represented groups in Higher Education, including Gypsies, Travellers, Roma, Showmen and Boaters; asylum seekers and refugees; carers; students from lower income households; and mature students. The bursary awards vary depending on priority but can include StudyPlus credit and/or cash.

We Care Bursary 2023/24

We have a dedicated team to support care-experienced students. The support includes a bursary award of £2,000 cash to eligible students for each year of full-time study, based on academic progression. Over a three-year course this bursary would be worth £6,000, over a four-year course, worth £8,000 and over a five-year course, it would be worth £10,000. The bursary is paid for every year of continuous study in four instalments of £500.

If you have any questions about this bursary or any of the criteria, please contact the We Care Team at care.contact@sunderland.ac.uk or 0191 515 2216.

How do I know if I’m eligible?

You can read the guidance notes for each scholarship or bursary on our scholarships and bursaries page to see a full breakdown of eligibility and how they are awarded.

What’s StudyPlus credit? 

StudyPlus is an online store where you can ‘buy’ (using your StudyPlus credit) study and lifestyle essentials. Ranging from books and resources – recommended by your lecturers – to stationery and home accessories, StudyPlus is a great way to get the things you need for your student journey.

How do I apply?

It couldn’t be easier to apply for our scholarships and bursaries. Simply follow our step-by-step how to apply for a scholarship or bursary guide which asks you to log into your e:Vision account and complete a short application form for each scholarship or bursary you wish to apply for. Be sure to check out any deadlines to submit applications – the deadline to apply for the University of Sunderland Scholarship and the University of Sunderland Bursary is 12 noon on 31 July 2023.

More information

If you have any questions about your eligibility for any of our scholarships or bursaries, or need a hand with your application, please get in touch with the team on 0191 515 2865 or scholarships@sunderland.ac.uk and they'll be happy to help!

Published: 18 May 2023