Undergraduate student shopping for nuts in the Victoria market in Nottingham City Centre - November 2021.Lucan Ion.

Financial support: your guide to scholarships and bursaries

Everything you need to know to apply for funding at the University of Nottingham

We have a range of scholarship and bursary options available to support you financially during your time at the University of Nottingham, whether you’re a ‘home’ student (meets UK residence criteria) or an international student.

Both scholarships and bursaries are non-repayable - if you qualify, the funds will be paid alongside your student loan.

This guide will:

  • Explain the difference between the different types of funding
  • Introduce you to our scholarships and bursaries at Nottingham
  • Provide links to eligibility criteria and application
  • Provide funding information for international students

What’s the difference between scholarships and bursaries?

The main difference between a scholarship and a bursary is the availability of each type of funding. 

  • Scholarships tend to have limited places and often require an application to assess your eligibility against other applicants. 
  • Bursaries are not competitive; they aim to help students access university more easily through financial support.  

Our scholarships

Students who show outstanding achievement can be rewarded with financial support during their studies through a scholarship.

  • Scholarships are non-repayable (in most cases), so you won't have to pay anything back but they are competitive due to limited availability.
  • Students can apply for the scholarship of their choice and are assessed based on how closely they fit the criteria.

We have a range of scholarships available for those with different skills, abilities and backgrounds. Browse the options below for more information on each scholarship.
 

Potential Scholarships


Scholarships to encourage potential in students from lower-income backgrounds or who have faced significant difficulties.

Witty Entrepreneurial Scholarship


The Witty Entrepreneurial Scholarship is for students from lower-income backgrounds who are interested in entrepreneurship.

Travel Scholarships


Our Travel Scholarships are funded by generous private donations to support students who will be travelling or studying abroad as part of their course.

Sports scholarships


For academy, national or international standard sportspeople to receive financial and training support.

The Stoneygate Award


The Stoneygate Award supports academically able students who face or have overcome personal barriers to attend university.

Subject-based scholarships


A range of competitive scholarships based on the subject you are studying to help you excel in your area of interest.

Local Scholarships


Local Scholarships support our students who live and/or attended school in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire or the wider East Midlands area

Scholarships for asylum seekers and refugees


These scholarships are in place to support students who are seeking or have been granted asylum in the UK.

Our bursaries

If you don’t meet the criteria for one of our scholarships or are unsuccessful in your application, you may still be eligible to receive a bursary.

Our bursaries help University of Nottingham students fund their time at university to ease some financial pressure while studying with us. Unlike a student loan, bursaries are non-repayable, and you’re free to spend it in any way you’d like to help you while you study.

Some of our bursaries have unlimited availability, so you are guaranteed to receive funding if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Our bursaries include:

Core Bursary

For UK students with a household income of less than £35,000 as assessed by student finance.

Eligibility criteria and application

Nottingham Potential Bursary

For UK students with personal circumstances or backgrounds may have impacted academic potential.

Eligibility criteria and application

Care Experienced and Estranged Bursary

For UK students who have been in care or are estranged from their families.

Eligibility criteria and application

Government Bursaries

For UK students on various vocational courses such as medicine, teaching, and social work.

Eligibility criteria and application

Undergraduate students socialising in Cobden Chambers, Nottingham City Centre - November 2021.Jane Israel (striped top) and Bolusefe Akande (sunflower hat).

Undergraduate students socialising in Cobden Chambers, Nottingham City Centre - November 2021.Jane Israel (striped top) and Bolusefe Akande (sunflower hat).

International Student Scholarships 

We offer a range of undergraduate scholarships for international students who choose to study at the University of Nottingham. We also welcome students funded by external scholarships.

Undergraduate Excellence Awards

The International Undergraduate Excellence Award is the University of Nottingham’s scholarship award, designed to support international students who show academic excellence and passion for their chosen field of study.

Each award covers a contribution towards tuition fees in the first year of an undergraduate degree programme at Nottingham.

Regions covered:

  • Africa
  • Americas
  • ASEAN and Oceania
  • Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS)
  • East Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East and Turkey
  • South Asia

If you are an international student currently studying in the UK, you should apply for the UK International Excellence Award.

Sports-related scholarships

Make sure to check individual pages for their application deadlines.