You can apply for or automatically receive these scholarships and bursaries if you are a postgraduate applicant or student.
Explore our postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries that are available to postgraduate students, from tuition fee discounts to subject-specific cash scholarships to support your learning.
Some are automatically awarded, which means you don't need to make an application and will receive them automatically if you're eligible. Others require an application that will assess your eligibility – please note applying doesn't guarantee you'll receive it.
What is it?
20% waiver on the full cost of course fees to reward loyal alumni who return to study a postgraduate degree at the University.
Who can apply?
Alumni (graduates of the University) who enrol on a full or part-time postgraduate course (MA, MSc, LLM, MBA, MPhil, PhD, Dprof, DBA, EdD, or PhD by Existing or Creative Works) delivered at either of our Sunderland campuses starting between 1 August 2025 and 31 July 2026.
How much will I get?
You’ll receive a 20% fee reduction.
How do I apply?
You do not need to apply for this scheme; if you are eligible, you will automatically receive the discount.
When can I apply?
You do not need to apply. When you enrol on your course, if you are eligible the award will be automatically applied.
How will I be paid?
The discount will be automatically applied.
When will I receive my award?
You'll receive your award when you enrol on your course.
The Robson Arts and Design Committee meet annually in September to award this scholarship programme. You must submit your application by Friday 6th September 2024.
How will I be paid?
Funding is paid via the University’s Development Trust and payment will be agreed at point of award.
When will I receive my award?
You’ll receive your award prior to your course commencing.
The North-East Postgraduate Discount provides a 20% fee discount on the full cost of course fees for specified full-time and part-time postgraduate courses.
Who can apply?
You must be a ‘home’, ‘refugee’, ‘asylum seeker’ or ‘overseas island’ student on an eligible course.
You must have a local connection to the north-east region.
The discount is available to students who have experienced financial hardship due to the cost-of-living challenges.
The Aziz Foundation Scholarships Programme offers 100% tuition fee master's scholarships to support British Muslims to study at UK universities. The scholarships are aimed at those who wish to advance in their careers and bring positive change to their communities and beyond.
Who can apply?
You must be a Home student studying an eligible postgraduate course. See our additional information for a full list of eligible courses.
You must be active within a Muslim community and demonstrate intimate knowledge of issues affecting British Muslim communities.
You must be able to demonstrate long-term commitment to community/societal development within Britain.
The application and awards process will be carried out over two cycles in 2025:
Cycle
Application dates
Interview dates
Award dates
1
13 Jan from 11am – 4 April, 12 noon
February – April
Mid-May
2
8 April from 11am – 20 June, 12 noon
April – July
Late July
The deadline for applications for cycle 1 is 12 noon Friday 4 April 2025.
The deadline for applications for cycle 2 is 12 noon Friday 20 June 2025.
The earliest start for courses we can consider is June 2025.
If your course starts between June – August 2025, you must apply during cycle one, otherwise, your application will not be considered.
For courses starting from September 2025, you may apply in either cycle.
How will I be paid?
These scholarships are being given as Zakat. Therefore, applicants will need to self-assess to determine their Zakat eligibility using the Islamic Relief and/or NZF Zakat calculators as an indicator.
When will I receive my award?
You will receive your award when you have successfully enrolled onto your course.
Please note, this is an external scholarship provided by the Aziz Foundation and all applications and awards are administered by the Foundation.
In addition to the bespoke support offered by the We Care team, we offer the We Care Postgraduate Bursary to financially support eligible students while they study at postgraduate level.
Who can apply?
This bursary is for students who meet the University’s definition of being care-experienced or estranged. Care experienced students may have spent time in UK local authority care in any form, at any stage of their life, with no age limit. Estranged students must be studying without the support of a family network, be irreconcilably estranged from both parents/carers, and be under the age of 25 on 1 September 2026.
The We Care Postgraduate Bursary awards £2,500 cash to eligible postgraduate students.
The bursary is paid in four instalments of £625 on the fifth working day of November 2026, January 2027, April 2027 and July 2027.
How do I apply?
You do not need to apply.
If you apply for an eligible course and declare you are care experienced or estranged on your application, you will be contacted by the We Care team and asked to provide evidence of your care experience or estrangement.
Once your care-experienced or estranged status has been verified, you will be provisionally awarded the bursary and invited to a welcome meeting at the start of the academic year.
If you are eligible for the We Care Postgraduate Bursary, you will also be offered an additional pastoral support package.
If you have any questions about your eligibility for any of our scholarships or bursaries, or need support 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!
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