Funding and scholarships for undergraduate students
Financial support to help you get the most out of your studies.
Financial support
If you’re thinking about applying to university, or have already applied, and are wondering how you’ll afford it, we can help. We’ve got useful information on how you can manage your finances and what support is available.
Student loans
The main source of funding for UK students is the student loan.
There are two main types of loans:
- tuition fee loan – covers the cost of your tuition fees and is paid directly to the university
- maintenance loan – designed to help you cover your living costs, including accommodation. It is paid directly to you in three instalments each year of your course. The value of your loan is based on your household income and whether you are living at home.
Student loans need to be repaid but only once your earnings reach an agreed level.
Scholarships, bursaries and grants
Many institutions will offer additional sources of funding such as scholarships, bursaries and grants. Unlike student loans, these don’t need to be paid back.
All scholarships, bursaries and grants work a little differently. Some will be based on achievements such as academic excellence or sports excellence, and some will look at personal circumstances such as household income or barriers you may face attending full-time education.
You may need to apply for the scholarship, bursary or grant, or you may be awarded it automatically. It’s important to check your eligibility and the application process when doing your research.
If you choose to study at Manchester Met, there’s a variety of additional financial support available to help you get the most out of your studies. Check out the support packages, bursaries and scholarships you could be eligible.
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Student Support Package
£750 per year to help fund your studies
We know that the decision to study at university is a big one, especially if money is already tight in your family.
That’s why we have launched our unique student support package - £750, every year of your undergraduate degree. It’s not a loan - you don’t have to repay it - and it doesn’t affect other scholarships and bursaries.
You are eligible if you are:
- a new UK undergraduate or foundation year student, with a student support number from Student Finance
- from a household with an income of up to and including £25,000
- paying the full rate of tuition fees
If you are studying part-time and otherwise eligible, how much you get will depend on how intensive your course is. If the course is equivalent to half a full-time course, you will get half the standard amount.
How it works
You don’t need to make a separate application - all the information we need is covered when you apply for tuition and maintenance loans.
Just give your consent to share your financial data with the University when making your loan application. If your parents, guardians or partner has had their income assessed they will also need consent.
We will notify eligible students during the first term.
How it’s paid
If you are staying in Manchester Met accommodation, we will credit your accommodation fees account with two instalments.
Everyone else will get a cash payment direct to their bank account. We will email you during the first few weeks of term to confirm your eligibility for the Student Support Package and request your bank details.
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First Generation Scholarship Programme
We’re helping hundreds of talented young people in the North West of England become the first in their families to go to university.
Our First Generation Scholarship Programme is open to students whose parents or guardians did not go to university and who:
- live or study in the North West (Lancashire, Cumbria, Cheshire, Merseyside and Greater Manchester)
- are studying A levels or BTECs
- meet specific academic criteria
Eligible students will get an insight into undergraduate study and support throughout the application process.
Those choosing to study at Manchester Met get a £1,500 bursary (paid in instalments of £500 over three years of their degree programme), as well as professional and personal support while studying.
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Scholarships
Scholarships are funded by donations to Manchester Met and enable talented students to pursue their dreams of entering higher education. These awards help the University to provide accessible education to a diverse student community and recognise academic excellence.
The application process, eligibility criteria and funding amounts are different for each scholarship. Read the full guidance before applying.
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Sports scholarships
Targeted at talented athletes, this scholarship aims to help balance studying for a degree with the demands of elite training and competition.
It is tailored to the needs of each athlete and is worth up to £7,000 a year. Additional support is available for exceptional applicants.
Among the benefits included are:
- Up to 20% off fees
- Access to top class sporting facilities, either on campus or within a ten-minute drive
- Personalised sport science support, including nutrition, lifestyle, strength and conditioning, and performance analysis
- Physiotherapy and sports massage
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Bursaries and grants
Care Leavers’ Bursary
If you are leaving care, you can apply for an additional cash payment in each year of your degree. You don’t need to repay this grant.
As a care leaver, you can also apply for student finance as an independent student - which means you may be eligible for the maximum student maintenance loan.
More about the Care Leavers’ Bursary
Disabled students
Manchester Met students can get a wide range of support from our disability service.
You can apply if you have a registered disability, including:
- a long-term health condition
- a mental health condition
- specific learning difficulty (e.g. dyslexia)
The allowance is available to part- and full-time students. You will need to apply after making your student loan application.
Full-time students with dependants
If you are caring for children or adults who depend on you, you may be entitled to extra financial support.
These are government benefits that don’t need to be repaid as long as you are successfully completing your course and remain eligible. You can apply for them linked to your student loan application.
Available to full-time students, the grant will cover up to 85% of your childcare costs. It is capped at £183.75 for one child, and £315.03 for two or more children. You will need to complete the student finance application and then provide additional details.
Full-time students with children may be entitled to up £1,821 a year towards books, study materials, travel and other learning costs. You can apply within your main student finance application.
If you are a full-time student and an adult depends on you financially, you could claim up to £3,263 a year. You can apply within your main student finance application.
Emergency support
Should money problems occur during the year, we’ll give you practical support and may be able to make small payments, including to help with:
- unforeseen living costs
- crises
- delays in loans being paid
You should not rely on support payments in planning your budget.