Additional funding for undergraduate study
Information about additional funding opportunities for undergraduate students.
If you are a prospective student, make sure you’ve visited our undergraduate fees and funding hub, which includes signposting to information about government loans and support, bursaries, scholarships and funding for international students.
External resources
There are a range of really helpful existing websites to help you identify and search for funds available to support you with your studies - the below are only suggestions.
General
There are a few sites that act as a search engine for funding opportunities and may save you time searching for individual schemes.
- Blackbullion’s Funding Hub enables students to find additional funding for university and include details about funds offered by companies, charities and other organisations. You will need to register to search for funding.
- The Turn2us Grants Search allows individuals to enter details and be matched to grants for which they may be eligible.
Examples of specific funding opportunities available:
- British Medical Association (BMA) Charities provide support to doctors and medical students who are in financial need; this includes annual grants to medical students who are taking medicine as a second degree.
- The Fintest Rising Star Scholarship offers a £1,000 award to enrolled undergraduate students who demonstrate a keen interest in finance and a commitment to driving innovation in the sector.
- Holbeck scholarships are open to pupils from schools and colleges in the Yorkshire and Humber region, who are applying to any UK university.
- The Law Society provides information about funding opportunities for law students.
- The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust offers financial support for grocers, pharmacists, commercial travellers and their families.
- NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) Student Services are responsible for assessing and paying various funding schemes to eligible students. More information about the support available and eligibility can be found on their website.
- The Nuclear Industry Benevolent Fund (TNIBF) bursary scheme provides one-off grants to individuals for education and training opportunities to help them begin or further their professional career in the UK Nuclear Industry.
- The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) offers a wide range of scholarships and bursaries to support students of architecture throughout their Part 1 and Part 2, as well as research funding for academics and practitioners.
- The Yorkshire Ladies' Council of Education offers grants to support eligible students with course fees.
If you are looking at this page because you are undertaking a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), which is funded by the undergraduate funding system, you can find out more information about bursaries and scholarships on the government web pages.
Students with disabilities
- Disability Grants is a website to help individuals save time finding grants that they may be eligible for.
- The Snowdon Trust delivers two financial award programmes to help students with a disability to achieve goals in further education, higher education or vocational training.
- The Student Health Association runs the Student Enablement Fund to help students with disabilities to keep up with their studies. They expect students to have applied for the Disabled Students' Allowance before applying to the fund.
Refugees
- Displaced Student Opportunities UK provides information about study support for refugees and people seeking asylum in the UK.
- Refugee Study provides a list of websites that may be useful for refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
- Schwab and Westheimer Trust provides funds towards education for refugees.
- Student Action for Refugees (STAR) has a list of nationwide scholarships and grants that are available.
Part-time work
Many students choose to work part-time. As well as boosting your finances, working whilst studying has a range of benefits, such as improving your employability skills. The University recommends that students on full-time courses work no more than 16 hours per week during term time.
The University Careers and Employability Service runs the Employability & Placements Hub based in the Students’ Union and advertises a range of employment opportunities on Career Connect, the University’s job board.
Careers and Employability Service - prospective students
Careers and Employability Service - current students (student login required)
Career Connect (student login required)
There is also an Equal Opportunities Fund for current students, where, if you meet the Equal Opportunities eligibility criteria, you can apply for up to £300 per academic year to reimburse expenses incurred when taking part in an opportunity that develops your employability.
Equal Opportunities Fund (student login required)
In addition, current students who have worries about affording formal clothing for upcoming job interviews, assessment centres, or a new job can get a free referral to The Suit Works, a Sheffield not-for-profit organisation that offers free outfits from their huge range of pre-loved formal wear, with clothes for all shapes, sizes, and tastes. Just drop into the Employability and Placements Hub in the Students’ Union, where staff will help you with the referral.
Funding schemes for current students at the University of Sheffield
It is expected that you will have secured sufficient funding before you start your course to support yourself and pay your tuition fees for the duration of your studies. If you are a prospective student, please refer to the undergraduate fees and funding hub for signposting to information about government loans and support, bursaries, scholarships and funding for international students.
Undergraduate fees and funding
However, as a student at the University of Sheffield, there is some additional funding available to eligible students, including:
- The Participation Grant - eligible students can apply for up to £150 to help them take part in sports and activities led by the Students’ Union and Sport Sheffield
- Enhanced support for students who are care leavers, students who are estranged, or students with caring responsibilities for an ill or disabled family member
- Emergency financial assistance - if students face financial difficulties due to exceptional circumstances, they can apply for financial support from the university. Assessments are made based on information students are asked to provide about their income, outgoings and personal circumstances.
Current students can find out more about the existing funding schemes on our web pages.
Funding and financial support from the University (student login required)
In addition, leading up to the publication of undergraduate and postgraduate results, academic departments can award prizes in recognition and celebration of academic achievements. Prizes are usually performance-based against set criteria, such as getting the top mark in a unit of study. They often (but not always) come in the form of a monetary award, a book voucher, or a medal. Prizes are discretionary and may not be awarded every year.
Prizes for academic achievements (student login required)
Help and advice
If you are a prospective student and have any other general enquiries, contact us.
If you need to discuss your financial situation with someone, you can contact the Student Advice Centre in the Students' Union (both prospective students with an offer and current students).
They have also provided some useful money management information online, available to all.