Did you know that Northern Ireland has the most affordable student living costs in the UK?
Students studying in Northern Ireland enjoy low rents and affordable living expenses including inexpensive nights out. In fact, Northern Ireland is the cheapest region on average for student living costs at £904 per month.
If you choose not to live at home, accommodation will make up a significant part of your living costs.
The average UK Monthly student accommodation rent is £535 per month whereas it is £319 in Northern Ireland. (Source: National Student Accommodation Survey 2023, savethestudent.org).
Apply for financial support
There are many ways you can fund your studies and, depending on your residency status, you may have access to finance beyond tuition fee loans. This can include additional grants based on your individual circumstances including childcare commitments.
We strongly recommend that you research and apply for financial support as early as possible to complete all required admin before your course starts.
Your residency status will determine which Student Finance Agency is available to support you. Application dates and deadlines vary by agency. Please refer to the student finance advice section below for details.
Get advice on how, where and when to apply for student finance
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Applicants from Northern Ireland
You can apply for student finance for your full-time undergraduate course in academic year 2024 to 2025. Applications for full-time undergraduate student finance are expected to open by the end of March.
Applicants from Northern Ireland could be eligible for up to 10 types of student finance depending on their selection and circumstances. This includes Tuition Fee Loans, Maintenance Loans, Maintenance Grants, Childcare Grants, Disabled Students' Grants, and others. You do not need to apply for these individually. Submit your application and Student Finance NI will tell you what you qualify for. Visit Student Finance NI to read more on the types of finance available.
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Applicants from Republic of Ireland
EU tuition fee support applications will be open from April for full-time undergraduate course in academic year 2024 to 2025.
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Applicants from Great Britain and Islands
Visit the UK Government Student Finance for Undergraduates support page for information and advice on how to apply for student finance for full-time undergraduate course in academic year 2024 to 2025.
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Applicants from European Union
EU tuition fee support applications will be open from April for full-time undergraduate course in academic year 2024 to 2025.
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Fees and Funding for International Applicants (Excluding EU)
For more information on fees and finance visit Ulster Global.
Additional Financial Support
We want to ensure that every young person has the financial means to go to university. We, through our Widening Access team, continue to invest in financial support for those students who need additional help.
Below are several programmes currently available to 24/25 students* subject to eligibility:
- Access Bursary - An annual bursary of £475
- Accommodation Vouchers - £1,000
- Care Leaver Bursary - An annual bursary of £1,000. Recipients of this bursary will also receive additional ongoing support
- Community Scholarships – Annual bursaries up to £3,000 depending on scholarship. Recipients of these scholarship will also receive ongoing support
*Financial support opportunities are subject to change and availability.
Community Scholarships
Apply now to see if you are eligible for our Ulster University Community Scholarships.
Successful students will receive a £3,000 per year scholarship (up to a maximum of £9,000) to alleviate the financial undertaking a degree.
The Ulster University Community Scholarships application process is open to individuals who are currently in final year of an acceptable Level 3 qualification such as A-Levels, BTEC, or equivalent at an NI educational institution and who also have a permanent home address in Northern Ireland.
Essential Criteria
- -Be in receipt of an offer from Ulster University and have confirmed Ulster as your first choice.
- -Have a permanent home address in Northern Ireland.
- -Be first in family (this means your parent(s) have not gone to university) to undertake an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in the UK, Ireland or abroad. However, if a parent is currently studying for their first degree or has graduated within the last 5 years, the application will still be considered. You can apply if you have siblings who are at university or who have graduated.
In addition to the above criteria, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria
- -Be currently in receipt of free school meals (FSM) and/or Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
- -Be the main carer for a family member or dependant
- -Be care experienced
- -Be in receipt of disability living allowance/personal independence payments.
- -Permanently reside in an area of high deprivation/low participation.
Full details on eligibility of the scholarship can be found here
Budget management
Did you know you can access a number of budget management tools and money saving resources via the Ulster University Student Guide’s Top Money Tips?
This includes how to access exclusive discounts for students and the Money Saving Expert Student Budgeting Planner!
Got a question? Get in touch!
We know that choosing to study at university is a big decision, and you may not always be able to find the information you need online.
Please contact Ulster University with any queries or questions you might have about:
- Course specific information
- Fees and Finance
- Admissions
For any queries regarding getting help with your application, please select Admissions in the drop down below.
For queries related to course content, including modules and placements, please select Course specific information.
We look forward to hearing from you.