Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary criteria and terms and conditions 2024

Students are eligible to apply for the Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary, if they meet all the following terms and conditions and eligibility criteria:

1. Students must be starting their first undergraduate degree and be in the first year of their studies. This includes the foundation year of a science or engineering degree.
2. Students must have completed the ‘2024 Access Sheffield IT & Equipment Bursary - Register Interest and Consent to Share Data’ form by 5pm Sunday 28 July 2024.

Eligibility Criteria 

Residents of neighbourhoods with low participation in higher education	You should live in a postcode area with a POLAR4 ranking of Quintile 1.
Students who are care experienced	You must have notified us that you are a student who is care experienced or a care leaver in your UCAS application and completed an Access+ Declaration Form.  You should’ve lived in public care or as a looked-after child at any stage of your life up to the age of 18, including if you: are recognised by your Local Authority as a 'care leaver' or were in the past were adopted from care or left care with a Special Guardianship Order before the age of 18 lived with foster carers or in a residential children's home have been looked after under a supervision order; or have lived with friends or relatives in formal kinship care under a Local Authority but are not currently recognised by your Local Authority as a care leaver in receipt of statutory support
Students who are care leavers	You must have notified us that you are a student who is a care leaver in your UCAS application and completed an Access+ Declaration Form. You should be recognised by your Local Authority as a 'care leaver' or were in the past.  have been looked after by a local authority for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14; and were looked after by the local authority at school-leaving age or after that date
Students who are estranged from their families	You must have notified us that you are an estranged student in your UCAS application and completed an Access+ Declaration Form.  Estranged students have no relationship with, or support from, their parent(s) or carer(s). We'll consider you an estranged student if:  you haven't communicated with your parents for 12 months prior to the start of your degree course and the situation is irreconcilable; or both your biological or adoptive parents are deceased; or your parents can't be traced or it isn't practicable or safe for you to make contact with them
Students who are carers	You must have notified us that you are a student who has caring responsibilities in your UCAS application and/or completed an Access+ Declaration Form.  You should be responsible for providing unpaid care to someone who has, for example: a long-term illness a physical or learning disability a mental health condition an addiction; or temporary care needs following, for example, an accident or operation
Students who have parenting responsibilities	You must have notified us that you are a student who has parenting responsibilities in your UCAS application and/or completed an Access+ Declaration Form.  You should be a parent of, or responsible for the care and wellbeing of, a child aged 17 or under. This includes being: a biological parent a step-parent an adoptive or legal parent a legally-appointed guardian a foster carer; or someone who provides kinship or other parental care to a child or a family member or friend
Students entitled to free school meals	You must have notified us that you have been entitled to free school meals (FSM) in your UCAS application and/or completed an Access+ Declaration Form.  You should have been entitled to free school meals at some point during your secondary education. School pupils in the UK are normally entitled to free school meals if their parents or carers are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits. If you’re not sure, your school will be able to confirm this for you. You may also be entitled if you're paid qualifying benefits directly, instead of through your parent or carer.  We will check with the Department for Education that you have been eligible for FSM at some point during your secondary education.
Students who are forced migrants	You must have notified us that you are a forced migrant in your UCAS application and/or completed an Access+ Declaration Form.  You should: have official refugee status or limited leave to remain; or be seeking asylum This includes if: the UK government has granted you refugee status or humanitarian protection in the UK you have limited or discretionary leave to remain in the UK; or you're currently seeking asylum in the UK

Terms and conditions - general

• Students in receipt of The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary are still eligible to apply for other financial support from University of Sheffield.
• Students must have completed the Access+ Eligibility declaration form where requested.
• Eligible students who meet the conditions of their offer with the University of Sheffield will be emailed confirmation of The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary with a username and password for the JS Group Aspire Platform, to the email address provided in their UCAS application. 
• The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary is a non cash bursary.  A credit will be applied to the JS Group Aspire Platform.
• The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary is non transferable and can only be used to purchase items on the students account on the JS Group Aspire Platform.
• Funds will be credited directly to the students account on the JS Group Aspire Platform and will be available to use until 31 January 2025 - under certain circumstances the accounts of students on the Platform may be frozen or closed during this period and any unspent credit cancelled, for example, when students leave the University or if there is any misconduct in relation to their accounts.
• The credit can only be used to purchase approved items on the JS Group Aspire Platform.
• You can spend your funds on a variety of IT, study resources and equipment, including laptops, tablets and other items which have been pre-selected by the University of Sheffield and made available for you on the JS Aspire platform.
• The credit can be used for multiple purchases but must be used by 31 January 2025.
• The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary is non refundable and any residual funds not used by the deadline will be forfeited.
• The credit on the account can be used towards a more expensive purchase within the groups of items available on the platform, the difference in costs will need to be met by the individual student or parent/supporters through a credit/debit card.
• The JS Group are responsible for supplying all items ordered on the JS Group Aspire Platform.
• The JS Group are responsible for rectifying any issues with the orders or delivery of items and should be contacted directly if any issues arise. 
• If you withdraw or are removed from your course, you may have to repay a percentage of your bursary that you received in that academic year. 
• The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary amount will be confirmed once the University of Sheffield has confirmed students’ offer conditions have been met.
• To be eligible for the bursary Access+ eligible students will need to have made Sheffield their firm choice by 24 July 2024.
• The Access+ IT & Equipment Bursary is funded by the Access Service and IT Services as well as donations from Sheffield Alumni and as such the final bursary amounts announced in August will depend on how many students are eligible and how many apply for the bursary.

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