Financial Support for Students

University policies for the disbursement of direct financial support to students arising from regulatory compliance with the Higher Education (Northern Ireland) Order 2005.

The polices are overseen by Academic Business Development on behalf of the University.

They include:

• Access Bursary

  Eligible students will receive a bursary of 10% of the annual student fee to help meet the costs associated with their course. Bursaries, like grants, do not have to be repaid.

  Students must:

  • have a residual family household income, as assessed by Student Finance NI, not greater than £19,203;
  • be permanently resident in NI;
  • be registered on a full-time undergraduate course of the University leading to a first degree, or a course leading to the Postgraduate Certificate in Education.

  Students on the Nursing degree, all Allied Health degrees, and NI students on the Social Work degree are not eligible as additional government support is available for such students.

  Unlimited number of awards.

  • Get more information on the Access Bursary
• Care Leavers' Bursary

  The Care Leavers Bursary of £1,000 per annum forms part of a comprehensive suite of financial and non-financial support under the ‘Fostering Aspirations’ banner.

  The Bursaries are available to students with a background of care and include access to year-round accommodation and assistance with the application process.

  Full-time undergraduate students leaving care, or who have spent time in care for a period of three months, are eligible. Students are advised that when applying through UCAS that it is important they tick the box which asks if they have been in care.

  • Support for Care Leavers
• Accommodation Voucher 

  The Accommodation Voucher scheme was introduced in 2018/19 to encourage students from lower income households to apply for university-approved purpose built student accommodation.

  New students who are eligible for the Access Bursary (currently of value £475) can apply to have this converted to an accommodation voucher of £1,000 for one year only.

  Up to 125 Awards are available annually.

  • Get more information on the Accommodation Voucher  [add link]
• Asylum Seekers' Scholarships

  Ulster University will offer up to six scholarships for students registered as asylum seekers in Northern Ireland.

  Further information is available on the Scholarship Finder.

• Fee Waivers

  Working in partnership with community groups and charities, Ulster's Flexible Education framework enables eligible students to participate in individual modules and accumulate academic credit that can lead to University awards in a way that suits their individual circumstances.

  To overcome financial barriers, fee waivers are available for students who meet the eligibility criteria.

  Eligibility Criteria

  Applicants must be a Northern Ireland resident and also meet at least one of the following criteria:

  • be unemployed;
  • be aged 16-24 years old and not in education/employment/training (NEET);
  • have an individual income of less than £16,190 gross;
  • be in receipt of one of the following benefits: Universal Credit, Working Tax Credit, Disability Living Allowance (DLA/personal independence payments), or Carers Allowance;
  • have been in care (fostering/adopted/care home or other supported residential care).

  Value

  Up to £500 (£85k annually).

  Dependent on available resource.

• Technology Fund (Now Closed)

  The Technology Fund has been set up to provide laptops during the pandemic to allow all students to participate fully via online learning has now closed.

  Useful web links for students requiring financial and/or other support:

  • Student Wellbeing and Experience
  • Scholarships and Bursaries
  • Ulster University Students’ Union
• Discount to Part-time Undergraduate Student Fee

  [to be updated]

  A 10% discount will be applied to the student fee for those students who are eligible for a part-time fee grant from Student Finance NI

  Note

  1. Fee Grants are available to home students, ie Northern Ireland domiciled students and also those from the Republic of Ireland and EU.
  2. Only those EU students commencing their students in 2020/21 will be treated as home students.