The undergraduate bursary is a type of financial support for students who have a low household income. It is a cash payment made to your bank account and is available in each year of study. It is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.
You are eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:
Students who are studying abroad remain eligible to receive the bursary. Students returning from a pause in studies may be eligible and should contact the Financial Support Team.
Students are not eligible if they are/have:
For 2020-2024 entry, the bursary thresholds are:
| Annual household income | Student Support Package |
|---|---|
| £0 - £16,000 |
£2,000 |
| £16,001 - £30,000 | £1,000 |
The University may change its bursary thresholds ahead of a new academic year. Your bursary entitlement will be based on the thresholds that were in place the year you started your course.
There is no separate application. When you apply for a Student Finance maintenance loan, you have the option to have your loan means-tested so that you can receive a higher amount. Student Finance will then complete a household income assessment and, with your/your parent’s consent, share the information with the University.
We review household income information each October. If you are eligible to receive the bursary, the award will be applied automatically. You will be notified by email, typically in October, and the email will be sent to the address registered with Student Finance.
If you would like to be considered for a bursary without taking a maintenance loan, simply complete the standard Student Finance online application form and indicate that you are seeking a loan of £0. Student Finance can complete the household income assessment for the sole purpose of bursary eligibility.
Bursary awards are paid in three instalments:
Bursaries can only be received in the current academic year and cannot be applied retrospectively.
Students must have a household income showing by 31 May 2025 to be eligible to receive the bursary in the 2024/25 academic year.
If you think your household income has decreased by 15% or more since you were last assessed by Student Finance, you can contact Student Finance and request a current-year assessment. The new assessment may lead to a higher maintenance loan as well as a higher bursary award.
Student Finance can choose to reassess your household income at any time if they feel there has been a change in your circumstances. If that is the case, and their reassessment shows that you have a higher household income, they may notify you by email that your bursary award has been reduced or you’ve become ineligible to receive one.
Please ensure the contact details in your Student Finance account are kept up to date so that all communications reach you in good time.
Please contact the Financial Support Team at stufunds@soton.ac.uk
You are eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:
Students who are studying abroad remain eligible to receive the bursary. Students who have their course fees paid by the NHS are eligible if they started their course in the 2025/26 academic year. Students returning from a pause in studies may be eligible and should contact the Financial Support Team.
Students are not eligible if they are/have:
From 2025 entry, the bursary thresholds are:
| Annual household income | Student Support Package |
|---|---|
| £0 - £23,000 | £2,000 |
| £23,001 - £36,200 | £1,000 |
The University may change its bursary thresholds ahead of a new academic year. Your bursary entitlement will be based on the thresholds that were in place the year you started your course.
There is no separate application. When you apply for a Student Finance maintenance loan, you have the option to have your loan means-tested so that you can receive a higher amount. Student Finance will then complete a household income assessment and, with your/your parent’s consent, share the information with the University.
We review household income information each October. If you are eligible to receive the bursary, the award will be applied automatically. You will be notified by email, typically in October, and the email will be sent to the address registered with Student Finance.
If you would like to be considered for a bursary without taking a maintenance loan, simply complete the standard Student Finance online application form and indicate that you are seeking a loan of £0. Student Finance can complete the household income assessment for the sole purpose of bursary eligibility. If you are a medical student about to start your clinical years, then you should follow this process to receive the University bursary.
Bursary awards are paid in three instalments:
Bursaries can only be received in the current academic year and cannot be applied retrospectively.
If you think your household income has decreased by 15% or more since you were last assessed by Student Finance, you can contact Student Finance and request a current-year assessment. The new assessment may lead to a higher maintenance loan as well as a higher bursary award.
Student Finance can choose to reassess your household income at any time if they feel there has been a change in your circumstances. If that is the case, and their reassessment shows that you have a higher household income, they may notify you by email that your bursary award has been reduced or you’ve become ineligible to receive one.
Please ensure the contact details in your Student Finance account are kept up to date so that all communications reach you in good time.
Please contact the Financial Support Team at stufunds@soton.ac.uk
You are eligible if you meet all of the following criteria:
Students who are studying abroad remain eligible to receive the bursary. Students returning from a pause in studies may be eligible and should contact the Financial Support Team.
Students are not eligible if they are/have:
For 2015-2019 entry, the bursary thresholds are:
| Annual household income | Annual household income |
|---|---|
| £0 - £16,000 | £3,000 |
| £16,001 - £25,000 | £1,500 |
The University may change its bursary thresholds ahead of a new academic year. Your bursary entitlement will be based on the thresholds that were in place the year you started your course.
There is no separate application. When you apply for a Student Finance maintenance loan, you have the option to have your loan means-tested so that you can receive a higher amount. Student Finance will then complete a household income assessment and, with your/your parent’s consent, share the information with the University.
We review household income information each October. If you are eligible to receive the bursary, the award will be applied automatically. You will be notified by email, typically in October, and the email will be sent to the address registered with Student Finance.
If you would like to be considered for a bursary without taking a maintenance loan, simply complete the standard Student Finance online application form and indicate that you are seeking a loan of £0. Student Finance can complete the household income assessment for the sole purpose of bursary eligibility.
Bursary awards are paid in three instalments:
Bursaries can only be received in the current academic year and cannot be applied retrospectively.
If you think your household income has decreased by 15% or more since you were last assessed by Student Finance, you can contact Student Finance and request a current-year assessment. The new assessment may lead to a higher maintenance loan as well as a higher bursary award.
Student Finance can choose to reassess your household income at any time if they feel there has been a change in your circumstances. If that is the case, and their reassessment shows that you have a higher household income, they may notify you by email that your bursary award has been reduced or you’ve become ineligible to receive one.
Please ensure the contact details in your Student Finance account are kept up to date so that all communications reach you in good time.
Please contact the Financial Support Team at stufunds@soton.ac.uk
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