Key Summary
FAQs
What grants are available for university students from low-income families?
Several dedicated platforms and charities help match you to funding, including Blackbullion (formerly The Scholarship Hub), Turn2Us and UCAS's own bursary search tool. Many universities also run their own bursaries and hardship funds, like the Cambridge Bursary Scheme, which pays eligible students £3,500 a year.
Where can I search for scholarships and grants across many universities at once?
Blackbullion (which absorbed The Scholarship Hub) lets you filter by a specific university or search grants open to any institution, and it's free to sign up. Turn2Us's grant search tool works similarly, just make sure to set your occupation to "student/apprentice" so you see the right results.
Does UCAS offer financial help beyond the application process?
Yes, UCAS runs a searchable database of scholarships and bursaries you can filter by your own circumstances. Not all listings come directly from UCAS itself, so it's worth double-checking the details and eligibility criteria of anything that catches your eye before applying.
Are there grants for specific subjects or career paths?
Yes. The Savoy Educational Trust supports students on hospitality-related courses with a scholarship or a grant toward course materials like books and uniform, and the British Council runs scholarships aimed at specific groups, such as women studying STEM subjects. It's worth searching for funding tied to your specific subject alongside general low-income grants.
What extra financial support does GOV.UK offer beyond the standard student loan?
If you're a disabled student, you can apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance to help cover extra costs linked to your studies. There's also support if you have children or a dependent adult, including a childcare grant and adult dependants' grant, plus the possibility of claiming Universal Credit alongside your student finance.
Do I have to pay back grants and bursaries?
Generally, no. Unlike your maintenance loan, most grants, bursaries and charity funding don't need to be repaid, which is exactly why they're worth the time it takes to apply. Always check the specific terms of each scheme, since eligibility rules can vary.
Can my university help if I'm struggling financially during my course?
Yes, most universities run their own hardship funds and access bursaries for students facing financial difficulty, on top of national schemes. Contact your university's student support or finance office directly, since these funds are often specific to your institution and not always advertised widely.
What if I don't fit the usual definition of a low-income student?
Look beyond income-specific grants, since many schemes target other circumstances instead, like being a care leaver, an estranged student, having a disability, or studying a specific subject such as hospitality. Charities like Family Action also support students receiving means-tested benefits or holding an Application Registration Card, so it's worth checking eligibility criteria carefully rather than ruling yourself out early.
University is a great opportunity for many, but it can also be very expensive. Alongside tuition fees, there are many other extra costs that you may not consider before applying. These can put a strain on your finances, and budgeting can become another stressor in student life. Sometimes, a maintenance loan is not enough to cover everything. As a result, it is difficult to enjoy the full student experience. However, if you are worried about university costs, do not stress! There are many schemes out there designed to help students. We’ve listed a few here to help you get started.
The Scholarship Hub
The Scholarship Hub has provided support to students for years and was recently acquired by Blackbullion. You can now find their information on the Blackbullion online platform. This includes helpful advice and a range of scholarships, grants and bursaries. Whichever subject you choose to study, The Scholarship Hub will have help available to you.
The great thing about The Scholarship Hub is that you can adapt your grant search to your personal circumstances. For example, if you are sure on a university, but you don’t know what grants are available, you can limit your search to just that institution. Or, you can alternatively select ‘open to any university’ to see all grants that are potentially available to you. The platform also has a range of articles that provide informed, detailed guides on the best funding available to students. It is also free to sign up, so head over to The Scholarship Hub now!
Turn2Us
Turn2Us is a charity that is open to help everyone in need of financial support. However, there are many grants that students, in particular, can apply for on their website! Their website has a specific section for students, with a guide on benefits, grants and further advice.
By using the Turn2Us grant search tool, you will be able to find available grants that are right for you. Make sure to change your occupation to ‘student/apprentice’, as not all the grants on the website are open to students, even though there are many that are! Turn2Us is a great place to start your search for financial help, as finding grants is a quick process.
Crowd Scholar
Crowd Scholar is 100% funded by donations and gives a select number of students each year a sizeable scholarship to complete their studies. They are passionate about allowing exceptional disadvantaged students the opportunity to succeed and to be recognised for their achievements. Crowd Scholar focus on helping students with sizeable donations up to £10,000! Therefore, even if their scholarships are few and hard to come by, the rewards, if you were to be given one, would make a significant difference to your university experience.
To apply, you must:
- Be between 17 and 19 years of age when you start your course
- Plan to start university in the academic year you are applying
- Be eligible for free school meals
- Be a UK resident at the start of your application
- Be applying for a scholarship towards an education at a UK university
These scholarships are competitive, so it’s worth thinking about your options before you apply. The application includes mandatory components, such as a personal essay, a teacher recommendation, and, if you advance to the next round, a video interview. Current applications are open until June 1, 2026, so if you’re thinking of applying, I’d recommend taking a look now!
UCAS
As a student, you’re bound to be familiar with UCAS. However, they’re not just for applying to higher education! UCAS offers a range of grants and bursaries for students from low-income families. In fact, you can search on the UCAS website and filter for financial aid relevant to you. However, some of the ones they advertise do not come directly from them. So, make sure to do your research when applying!
Family Action
Family Action is a UK-based charity that supports children, young people and adults with resources, practical help and financial assistance. They provide self-help resources on their website, with advice on managing finances and mental health support. They also have an educational grants programme to support students who are struggling financially. To apply, there are certain criteria you must meet:
- A recipient of a means-tested benefit (or a dependent of parents/carers in receipt of means-tested benefits)
- A recipient of an Application Registration Card (this includes Asylum Seekers)
- Study at a publicly funded Further Education College
However, unlike others on this list, an authorised member of college staff must make an application on behalf of the student. Therefore, if you are interested in this grant, I recommend speaking to a member of staff, such as your personal tutor, who can support you.
British Council
The British Council is the UK’s ‘international culture and education organisation.’ They aim to build connections between people in the UK and countries worldwide. One way that they do this is by providing scholarships to support students, particularly international students studying in the UK, to encourage them to study in the UK.
For example, the British Council is currently partnering with UK universities to provide global scholarships for women studying a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subject. They aim to encourage women’s success and representation in STEM. Their scholarship does this by providing financial support for postgraduate students upwards of £40,000. In addition to this, they advertise fully funded opportunities and financial support for UK and international students on their website and social media. For example, they recently offered a fully-funded trip to the UK-Germany Youth Summit 2026. Meanwhile, for their 2025 Going Global Partnerships Seed Fund for Student Mobility, they provided grants of up to £10,000!
The Savoy Educational Trust
The Savoy Educational Trust is a charity that is dedicated to the advancement and development of education within the hospitality industry. They give grants to those who are about to, or already are, studying a hospitality-based subject at university, and those who are entering the hospitality industry to work. You can apply for a scholarship of £5,500 or a grant of up to £500. The purpose of the grant is to provide help with the purchase of any materials you might need for your course, such as books, uniform and practical equipment.
The grant might not seem like much, but when you’re finding it difficult to balance costs at university, that £500 will allow you to put that money elsewhere! Therefore, if you’re considering a future in the hospitality industry, applying for a Savoy Educational Trust scholarship/grant is a great option.
GOV.UK
Students use the gov website to apply for student finance, so why not use it to find financial support? The gov website has plenty of support for students when searching for finance as an individual from a low-income family. If you are a disabled student, you can also apply for the Disabled Students’ Allowance. This provides extra funding for supplies you might need whilst studying. There are also several options if you have children or live with a dependent adult, including the childcare grant and adult dependents’ grant. You might also be eligible for Universal Credit, which is a monthly payment to help with living costs.
Additionally, they provide guidance on applying for university grants and hardship funds, as you might be able to get specific funding from your university. However, this is specific to each university, so you will have to find out if there are any particular requirements when applying. Many universities support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. For example, the Cambridge Bursary Scheme provides £3,500 per year of undergraduate study to support students living in Cambridge.
Several of these options do not have to be paid back, which is really helpful as it means you can avoid any additional stress or debt. The gov website is definitely worth checking out if you think that you might be eligible for university funding or grants with other requirements.
Need further support? Take a look at one of our other guides on financial support for students, like this guide for mature students or our Student Finance FAQs. Moreover, you could research costs and budgeting whilst at university. Whilst grants can be really helpful, you might still need to think about budgeting and expenses. You could look at our tips on managing your money, or check out our city guides, such as this one, on the cost of living in Bristol.