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Undergraduate Funding

When you have decided to study at Ulster, you will need to identify how much it will cost and what funding options are available to you.

With the many different courses available, it is important to ensure that you have chosen a course that is going to get you the qualifications you need to progress into your chosen career.

Select the area of study you are interested in, for further details on funding available.

  • Nursing

    Nursing Bursary

    All NI or ROI full-time pre-registration nursing students taking up a commissioned place on our Adult Nursing or Mental Health Nursing courses will be eligible to receive a bursary whilst undertaking the course. Tuition Fees are fully covered by the Health and Social Care sector regardless if you already hold a degree.

    The bursary is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. If you do not believe this will cover all your essential costs, please refer to the 'Additional Sources of Funding' section below.

    The basic Nursing Bursary is £5165 per year, or £430 per month.

    On commencement of the course, you will receive approximately six weeks' bursary, payable at the end of October. Thereafter, bursaries will be paid monthly in arrears.

    Dependents

    If you have dependents, you may be eligible for additional support through the Bursary Administration Unit.  A household income assessed Parental Learning Allowance, of £1,294, and an Adult Dependents Grant, of £2,747,  may be available to those meeting the criteria.

    Please contact the Bursary Administration Unit for more details around funding.

    Travel expenses

    When completing clinical placements (in NI), which are in excess of your normal daily cost to and from Magee campus, you may be eligible to claim back some of your travel expenses.

    For example, if you have committed to travel from home, in Antrim, to Magee each day, and are then on placement in Belfast, you are not eligible to claim for expenses incurred whilst on placement, as the journey is less than that to Magee campus. If you live in Student accommodation on Magee campus, you are eligible to claim for expenses incurred whilst on placement, as the journey is further than that to Magee campus.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course.

  • Allied Health Professional (AHP)

    Tuition Fee Funding

    Allied Health Professional courses include:

    • Diagnostic Radiography and Imaging
    • Dietetics
    • Occupational Therapy
    • Physiotherapy
    • Podiatry
    • Radiotherapy and Oncology
    • Speech and Language Therapy
    • Paramedic science

    The Department of Health pays all Tuition Fees directly to Ulster University for NI & ROI students only. (Please see your chosen course for full details on funding).

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI (Full time) for a reduced maintenance loan and an Allied Health Professional Bursary. This bursary is administered by Student Finance NI on behalf of the Department of Health and is means-tested. Not all those that apply will be eligible for an award. The maximum funding available in 2024/25 is £3,318 maintenance loan, and £2,355 AHP Bursary.
    • If you have dependents, you may be eligible for additional support, this will be assessed at point of application.
    • ROI Students can apply to SUSI for a means-test grant.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year. Please refer to the payment schedule found on your Student Finance Notification of Entitlement letter.

    If the amount of funding available will not be sufficient to cover your essential costs, please refer to the 'Additional Sources of Funding' section below.

    Funding Exceptions

    Students can avail of ONE additional year's funding (for both Tuition fees and Maintenance support) through the 'plus one' rule, should they be required to repeat all or part of an academic year. Should a second repeat year (full or partial) be required, students will have to fully fund any fees incurred.

    Students who already hold a degree or equivalent are not eligible for any of the funding listed above. As such, students will need to meet these costs themselves. Please see the Self-Funded Study section below.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

  • Social Work

    Tuition Fee Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI (Tuition Fee Loan) for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • GB/IOM students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW, IOM
    • ROI & EU students can apply to Student Finance EU for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • International students must arrange payment of Tuition Fees with the Finance Department.
    • The Student Funding bodies will pay Tuition Fees directly to Ulster University.

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to  Student Finance NI for a maintenance loan and grant. Calculations are based on household income and as such, not all students who apply will be eligible for a maintenance grant.
    • If you have dependents, you may be eligible to Special Support Grant and Extra Help through Childcare Grant, Adult Dependents' Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Calculations are based on household income and not all students who apply will receive a grant. Please refer to SFNI website for full details of available support.
    • GB/IOM students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW, IOM
    • ROI Students can apply to SUSI for a means-test grant.
    • Maintenance support is not available for EU or International students, therefore you must be able to meet your own daily living costs whilst completing your course.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year.

    • First instalment is on the first day of term (or 5-7 days after the University has confirmed your attendance, if you applied late for funding)
    • Second instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Christmas break
    • Third instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Easter break

    SFNI maintenance funding awards for the academic year 2024/25:

    • Students coming from a household with an income of £19,203 or less will be in receipt of a maximum maintenance grant of £3,475. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £6,610 (£3,135 loan & £3,475 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £8,136 (£4,661 loan & £3,475 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £19,203 & under £41,540 will be in receipt of a mixture of a maintenance loan and a maintenance grant. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid. For example, those coming from a household with an income of £30,000:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £5,250 (£4,035 loan & £1,215 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £6,776 (£5,561 loan & £1,215 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £41,540 are not eligible for a maintenance grant, and their funding award will be a maintenance loan only.
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum loan of  £3,938
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £5,082

    Please note that students in Final year will receive reduced funding to that listed above as they do not complete a full year of study, full details of this can be provided by contacting SNFI directly.

    Social Work Student Incentive Scheme

    Students domiciled in Northern Ireland (only) may be eligible to apply for a non-means tested grant to help towards the cost of study and work-based learning expenses, through the Student Incentive Scheme.

    Full-time Social Work students can avail of a total grant of £4,500. These are paid in two instalments, typically December and February/March.

    If the amount of funding available will not be sufficient to cover your essential costs, please refer to the 'Additional Sources of Funding' section below.

    Funding Exceptions

    Students can avail of ONE additional year's funding (for both Tuition fees and Maintenance support) through the 'plus one' rule, should they be required to repeat all or part of an academic year. Should a second repeat year (full or partial) be required, students will have to fully fund any fees incurred.

    Students who already hold a degree or equivalent are not eligible for any of the funding listed above. As such, students will need to meet these costs themselves. Please see the Self-Funded Study section below.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

  • Other Full-time Undergraduate study

    Tuition Fee Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI (Tuition Fee Loan) for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • GB/IOM students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW, IOM
    • ROI & EU students can apply to Student Finance EU for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • International students must arrange payment of Tuition Fees with the Finance Department.
    • The Student Funding bodies will pay Tuition Fees directly to Ulster University.

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to  Student Finance NI for a maintenance loan and grant. Calculations are based on household income and as such, not all students who apply will be eligible for a maintenance grant.
    • Ensure to tick the box to give consent to share the household income details with the University as you may auto-qualify for the Widening Access Bursary.
    • If you have dependents, you may be eligible to Special Support Grant and Extra Help through Childcare Grant, Adult Dependents' Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Calculations are based on household income and not all students who apply will receive a grant. Please refer to SFNI website for full details of available support.
    • GB/IOM students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW, IOM
    • ROI Students can apply to SUSI for a means-test grant.
    • Maintenance support is not available for EU or International students, therefore you must be able to meet your own daily living costs whilst completing your course.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year.

    • First instalment is on the first day of term (or 5-7 days after the University has confirmed your attendance, if you applied late for funding)
    • Second instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Christmas break
    • Third instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Easter break

    SFNI maintenance funding awards for the academic year 2024/25:

    • Students coming from a household with an income of £19,203 or less will be in receipt of a maximum maintenance grant of £3,475. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £6,610 (£3,135 loan & £3,475 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £8,136 (£4,661 loan & £3,475 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £19,203 & under £41,540 will be in receipt of a mixture of a maintenance loan and a maintenance grant. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid. For example, those coming from a household with an income of £30,000:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £5,250 (£4,035 loan & £1,215 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £6,776 (£5,561 loan & £1,215 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £41,540 are not eligible for a maintenance grant, and their funding award will be a maintenance loan only.
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum loan of  £3,938
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £5,082

    Please note that students in Final year will receive reduced funding to that listed above as they do not complete a full year of study, full details of this can be provided by contacting SNFI directly.

    Funding Exceptions

    Students can avail of ONE additional year's funding (for both Tuition fees and Maintenance support) through the 'plus one' rule, should they be required to repeat all or part of an academic year. Should a second repeat year (full or partial) be required, students will have to fully fund any fees incurred.

    Students who already hold a degree or equivalent are not eligible for any of the funding listed above. As such, students will need to meet these costs themselves. Please see the Self-Funded Study section below.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

  • Part-time Undergraduate study

    Tuition Fee Funding

    Maintenance Funding

    Part-time students are not eligible for any maintenance support as they are available to work to cover their daily living costs.

    If your household income is less the £28,067, you may be eligible for a Course Grant of up to £265 through SFNI. This is paid in a single lump sum at the start of your course, and can help with University costs, such as books and travel.

    Funding Exceptions

    Students can avail of ONE additional year's Tuition Fee funding through the 'plus one' rule, should they be required to repeat all or part of an academic year. Should a second repeat year (full or partial) be required, students will have to fully fund any fees incurred.

    Students who already hold a degree or equivalent are not eligible for any of the funding listed above. As such, students will need to meet these costs themselves. Please see the Self-Funded Study section below.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information at Ulster University.

  • Self-funded study / Additional sources of funding

    University Funding

    Scholarships and Prizes are available through various schools, courses and external organisations. Each has its own eligibility criteria. Please take your time to read through the information provided to ensure you are eligible before applying.

    Students may be eligible to receive the means-tested Widening Access Bursary. Please read the eligibility criteria carefully.

    Students who are the first in their family to attend University, and face financial barriers in accessing higher education may be eligible to apply for an Ulster University Community Scholarship.

    If you are a care leaver or have previously spent time in care for three months or more, you may be eligible to apply for a Care-leaver Bursary.

    If you are an asylum seeker with 'right to study' included in your immigration status, then you may be eligible to apply for an Asylum Seekers Scholarship.

    External Funding

    UVersity Higher Education Scholarships for Adult Learners can help individuals 23 years or older to complete a bachelor's degree. Ensure you read all the information before applying.

    Commonwealth Scholarships Commission provides support to International Students studying in the UK. Scholarships provide talented and motivated individuals with the opportunity to enhance knowledge and skills in their given sector, in order to contribute to sustainable development in their home countries.

    Student bank accounts off access to interest free overdrafts for the duration of your course, plus up to two years interest free after graduation. They are the cheapest and most flexible way to borrow money, if managed wisely.

    Personal Loans can sourced online or through local high street branches. Shop around for the most affordable deals with the lowest interest rate.

    Credit Union loans can be sourced through your local branch both in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland. You will need to be a member and will require some savings first. Credit Unions offer loans without any hidden charges or fees for early repayment. Some local Credit Unions provide grants to help students in their study. Please visit your local branch to enquire.

    All Ireland Scholarship Scheme gives 25 awards per year to top-performing students for the duration of their undergraduate degree course. Please ensure you read the eligibility criteria before applying.

    GAA Club scholarships can support full-time undergraduate students (in second year or above) who are actively involved in the University's GAA Club.  Please ensure you read the eligibility criteria before applying.

    Lord Enniskillen Memorial Orange Society offer means-tested grants to members over 18 years old in full-time education, for a minimum of 10 hours per week.

    Visit the Scholarship Hub for details on sponsored degrees in the UK.

    If you are 25 or under and a Vegetarian, you may be eligible to apply for a grant from The Vegetarian Charity.

    ROI students may be eligible to apply for a Back to Education Allowance, or a St Vincent de Paul Educational Grant.

    Part-time work

    If you are currently employed, speak to your employer about sponsorship to help fully or part-fund your course.

    Self-fund your course by working whilst studying part-time.

    Visit Employability and Graduate Futures for support with CV writing and employability skills.

    Search for available placements and jobs through Handshake.

    You can search Job Apply NI and NI Job Finder for current vacancies.

    Don't forget to check local recruitment agencies and in-store advertisements for local vacancies.

  • Placement year / Study abroad

    Tuition Fee Funding

    When completing a years placement as part of your course, you will need to ensure you have funding in place to cover the reduced rate Tuition Fee:

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI (Tuition Fee Loan) for a reduced Tuition Fee loan.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Tuition Fee support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI & EU students can apply to Student Finance EU for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • International students must arrange payment of Tuition Fees with the Finance Department.
    • The Student Funding bodies will pay Tuition Fees directly to Ulster University.

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland completing a years placement can apply to  Student Finance NI (UG) for a reduced maintenance loan only. It is expected that students secure a paid placement to cover their essential daily living costs. The maximum maintenance loan available in 2024/25 is  £3,318.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI Students can apply to SUSI for a means-test grant.
    • Maintenance support is not available for EU or International students, therefore you must be able to meet your own daily living costs whilst completing your course.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year.

    • First instalment is on the first day of term (or 5-7 days after the University has confirmed your attendance, if you applied late for funding)
    • Second instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Christmas break
    • Third instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Easter break

    Students studying abroad, or completing essential clinical placements in the UK or ROI may be eligible to apply for an travel grant.

    Students interested in Study USA can apply for a Scholarship through the British Council (Study USA).

    For other study and work abroad opportunities, please visit the British Council website.

    For those planning on studying or working abroad, check out our Planning for Placement tips.

  • PGCE / Integrated Masters

    Students completing a PGCE (Postgraduate Certificate of Education), MArch (Master of Architecture) or an Integrated Master's degree are funded through the undergraduate student funding system (SFNI/SFE/SFW/SAAS).

    Tuition Fee Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to Student Finance NI (Tuition Fee Loan) for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Tuition Fee support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI & EU students can apply to Student Finance EU for a Tuition Fee loan.
    • International students must arrange payment of Tuition Fees with the Finance Department.
    • The Student Funding bodies will pay Tuition Fees directly to Ulster University.

    Maintenance Funding

    • Students domiciled in Northern Ireland can apply to  Student Finance NI for a maintenance loan and grant. Calculations are based on household income and as such, not all students who apply will be eligible for a maintenance grant.
    • Ensure to tick the box to give consent to share the household income details with the University as you may auto-qualify for the Widening Access Bursary.
    • Those with dependents may be eligible to Special Support Grant and Extra Help through Childcare Grant, Adult Dependents' Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance. Calculations are based on household income and not all students who apply will receive a grant. Please refer to SFNI website for full details of available support.
    • GB students can apply to their respective funding bodies for Maintenance support. SAAS, SFE, SFW.
    • ROI Students can apply to SUSI for a means-test grant.
    • Maintenance support is not available for EU or International students, therefore you must be able to meet your own daily living costs whilst completing your course.

    Maintenance funding is to help with essential daily living costs whilst completing your course. Payments are made in three instalments during the academic year.

    • First instalment is on the first day of term (or 5-7 days after the University has confirmed your attendance, if you applied late for funding)
    • Second instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Christmas break
    • Third instalment is paid on the first Monday after the Easter break

    SFNI maintenance funding awards for the academic year 2024/25:

    • Students coming from a household with an income of £19,203 or less will be in receipt of a maximum maintenance grant of £3,475. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £6,610 (£3,135 loan & £3,475 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £8,136 (£4,661 loan & £3,475 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £19,203 & under £41,540 will be in receipt of a mixture of a maintenance loan and a maintenance grant. This grant will replace some of the maintenance loan available to them, meaning there is less funding to be repaid. For example, those coming from a household with an income of £30,000:
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum award of £5,250 (£4,035 loan & £1,215 grant)
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £6,776 (£5,561 loan & £1,215 grant)
    • Students coming from a household with an income over £41,540 are not eligible for a maintenance grant, and their funding award will be a maintenance loan only.
      • Students living at home will receive a maximum loan of  £3,938
      • Students living away from home will receive a maximum award of £5,082

    Please note that students in Final year will receive reduced funding to that listed above as they do not complete a full year of study, full details of this can be provided by contacting SNFI directly.

    Funding Exceptions

    Students can avail of ONE additional year's funding (for both Tuition fees and Maintenance support) through the 'plus one' rule, should they be required to repeat all or part of an academic year. Should a second repeat year (full or partial) be required, students will have to fully fund any fees incurred.

    Students who already hold a degree or equivalent are not eligible for any of the funding listed above. As such, students will need to meet these costs themselves. Please see the Self-Funded Study section below.

    Additional Mandatory Costs

    Due to the nature of these courses, additional mandatory costs can be expected, please ensure you are aware of these and have made sufficient provisions to cover these before commencing your course. For further information on such costs, please view course specific information.