Scholarships and bursaries

We want everyone to be able to access higher education, no matter your background or circumstances. As the cost-of-living continues to increase, we understand how important it is to get financial support. Scholarships and bursaries are free financial awards that you don't need to pay back.

Check your eligibility

Two students laughing and chatting outside of the Fire Station venue

Scholarships and bursaries are forms of financial support that can help you with the cost of student life.
Scholarships are awarded for excellence or achievement in a specific field. This may include good grades in a subject area, performing at a high level in sport, or demonstrating particular qualities.
A bursary is awarded based on your circumstances or background. This includes your postcode area, household income, if you're care-experienced, and more.
Unlike a student loan from the Student Loans Company, scholarships and bursaries don't need to be paid back!

A photographer taking a photo of a person who is posing for the camera while sitting on a stool. A technician is reviewing the photos next to the photographer

What scholarships and bursaries am I eligible for?

We offer a wide selection of scholarships and bursaries that you could be eligible for to help you financially throughout your studies. Both can help cover the cost of student life, and they don't need to be repaid.

Check your eligibility

Two students smiling and laughing together

Where can I get financial support?

We understand how important financial support is when you're a student. Balancing your workload with your social life is tricky enough without having to deal with financial difficulties too.

We can help you in various ways, including offering guidance and advice from our Student Financial Support team, and through our student support fund. We can also signpost you to additional funding opportunities from grants and other funders.

Find financial support information

Offer Holder Day Travel Reimbursement 2026/27+

1. Background Principles

These Terms and Conditions apply to the University of Sunderland Offer Holder Events, including Meet and Greets, Late Applicant Events and Future Student Social. Travel Reimbursement is available to applicants who have applied for a UG FT course at Sunderland Campus starting in September 2026.

The University of Sunderland’s Offer Holder Event Reimbursement aims to provide a financial contribution towards travel costs incurred by applicants. The reimbursement is offered as part of our commitment to ensure that applicants who wish to attend an on campus Offer Holder Events are able to do so, therefore enabling them to make an informed decision on where they wish to study.

2. Eligibility

To receive the travel reimbursement:

Applicants must book a place on an offer holder event
Applicants must attend their offer holder event
Applicants must have checked in on the day with a member of the Home Student Recruitment team
Applicants must live within the United Kingdom

The following groups aren't eligible:

Current University of Sunderland Students
Applicants who haven't attended the Offer Holder Event
Guests aren't eligible to claim travel reimbursement

3. Claim

To claim the University of Sunderland Offer Holder Event Travel Reimbursement, students must complete the online Travel Reimbursement Form during or after attending the Offer Holder Event
The amount received will be the amount paid for standard-class coach or rail fare, or mileage at the applicable rate up to the maximum amount in the relevant band, dependent on the distance travelled. Mileage will be calculated at 45p per mile for journeys below 149 miles (return) and 25p per mile for journeys in excess of 149 miles return. Travel is calculated using the fastest route
Students must provide ID on the day of the Offer Holder Event or email it through afterwards to travel.bursary@sunderland.ac.uk. Acceptable forms of ID include a bank card, student card, driving license, or passport
Students must provide a copy of their bus/rail/coach/air/ferry tickets if applicable, displaying the price
If claiming for bus/rail/coach/air/ferry travel the location start point will be matched against the student’s registered address on our CRM system
Prospective students can only claim for either a travel ticket or mileage to the Offer Holder Event, they cannot claim for both
For students who have incurred parking costs off-site as a result of being unable to park on campus, you can claim for these charges, as long as you have photographic evidence of payment, and the reimbursement is within the relevant threshold
The claim will only be processed once attendance at the Offer Holder Event has been verified by Home Student Recruitment
The student must enter their own bank details onto the form. If the bank details do not match the student’s name on the form, the payment cannot be processed
Claims can be submitted up to two weeks after the event has passed. Any claims submitted after this date won't be processed

Please note forms can be filled in and submitted in advance, however these will not be processed until attendance has been confirmed at the Offer Holder Event that the submission is for.

If you have any questions about the form, you can email us at travel.bursary@sunderland.ac.uk.

4. Value of the Reimbursement

Value of award – up to £100.

Number of awards – unlimited (Limited to 1 per person).

Composition of award:

When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 20-69 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £30
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 70-149 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £50
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 150+ miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £100

Every effort has been made to ensure that all details about the Offer Holder Event Travel Reimbursement are correct at the time of writing. The University of Sunderland has the right to withdraw or amend the Offer Holder Event Travel Reimbursement at any time.

The University won't be deemed to be in breach of any Terms and Conditions due to changes to eligibility criteria, or other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the University. It should therefore be noted that these conditions are regularly reviewed and are subject to change from time to time. The University’s decision in relation to the payment of the Travel Reimbursement is final.

Interview Travel Reimbursement 2026/27+

1. Background principles

These Terms and Conditions apply to the University of Sunderland Interview Travel Reimbursement, which is available to applicants who attend an on-campus interview from 1 September 2025 to 31 July 2026 for entry to 2025/26 (April/May 2026 intake only) and September 2026/27 intake.

The Travel Interview Reimbursement aims to provide a financial contribution towards travel costs incurred by applicants who reside more than 20 miles away from the University of Sunderland (SR1 3SD, SR6 0DD or SR6 0AN). The reimbursement is offered as part of our commitment to ensure that applicants who wish to attend an on-campus interview can do so, therefore enabling them to make an informed decision on where they wish to study.

2. Eligibility

To receive the travel reimbursement, applicants must be attending an on-campus interview for one of the following courses:

(MPharm) Pharmacy
BA (Hons) Fashion Journalism
BA (Hons) Journalism
BA (Hons) Performing Arts
BA (Hons) Primary and SEND Education with QTS
BA (Hons) Primary Education with QTS
BA (Hons) Screen Performance
BA (Hons) Social Work
BA (Hons) Sports Journalism
BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing Practice
BSc (Hons) Audiology
BSc (Hons) Cardiac Physiology
BSc (Hons) Children and Young People's Nursing
BSc (Hons) Mental Health Nursing
BSc (Hons) Midwifery
BSc (Hons) Occupational Therapy (Accelerated)
BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care
BSc (Hons) Physiotherapy
MA Social Work
PGCE Further Education and Skills
PGCE in Primary Education with QTS
PGCE in Secondary Education with QTS.

It's also essential that:

Applicants must book a place on an interview
Applicants must attend their interview
Applicants must have checked in on the day with a member of the Home Student Recruitment team
Applicants must have travelled more than 20 miles from their home address (one way), registered on our CRM system, to the University of Sunderland City Campus (SR1 3SD) or Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter's (SR6 0DD), dependent on the location of their applicant day or interview
Applicants must live within the UK.

The following groups aren't eligible:

Current University of Sunderland Students
Applicants who have not applied for a full-time, undergraduate, PGCE or MA course at University of Sunderland, Sunderland Campus on the eligible course list
Applicants who have not travelled more than 20 miles (one way) from their home address to the University of Sunderland campus (SR1 3SD) or Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s (SR6 0DD), depending on the event location
Applicants who are attending an interview for a course which is not on the eligible course list
Guests are not eligible to claim travel reimbursement.

3. Claim

To claim the University of Sunderland Interview Travel Reimbursement, students must complete the online Travel Reimbursement Form after attending their on-campus interview
The amount received will be the amount paid for standard-class coach or rail fare, or mileage at the applicable rate up to the maximum amount in the relevant band, dependent on the distance travelled. Mileage will be calculated at 45p per mile for journeys below 149 miles (return), and 25p per mile for journeys in excess of 149 miles return. Travel is calculated using the fastest route
Students must provide ID on the day of their interview or email it through afterwards to travel.bursary@sunderland.ac.uk. Acceptable forms of ID include a bank card, student card, driving license, or passport
Students must provide a copy of their bus/rail/coach/air/ferry tickets, if applicable, displaying the price
If claiming for bus/rail/coach/air/ferry travel, the location start point will be matched against the student’s registered address on our CRM system
Prospective students can only claim either a travel ticket or mileage to the interviews; they cannot claim both
For students who have incurred parking costs off-site as a result of being unable to park on campus, you can claim these charges, as long as you have photographic evidence of payment, and the reimbursement is within the relevant threshold
The claim will only be processed once attendance at the interview has been verified by Home Student Recruitment
The student must enter their own bank details onto the form. If the bank details do not match the student’s name on the form, the payment cannot be processed
Claims can be submitted up to two weeks after the event has passed. Any claims submitted after this date will not be processed.

If you have any questions about the form, you can email us at travel.bursary@sunderland.ac.uk.

4. Value of the reimbursement

Value of award:

Up to £100.

Number of awards:

Unlimited (Limited to 1 per person).

Composition of the award:

When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 0–19 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be £0
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 20–69 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £30
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 70–149 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £50
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 150+ miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £100

Every effort has been made to ensure that all details about the Interview Travel Reimbursement are correct at the time of writing. The University of Sunderland has the right to withdraw or amend the Interview Travel Reimbursement at any time.

The University will not be deemed to be in breach of any Terms and Conditions due to changes to eligibility criteria, or other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the University. It should therefore be noted that these conditions are regularly reviewed and are subject to change from time to time. The University’s decision in relation to the payment of the Travel Reimbursement is final.

Open Day Travel Reimbursement 2026/27+

1. Background principles

These Terms and Conditions apply to the University of Sunderland Open Day Travel Reimbursement which is available to students who attend an on-campus Open Day event on 15 August 2026, 26 September 2026, 11 November 2026, 24 February 2027, and 5 June 2027.

The University of Sunderland’s Open Day Travel Reimbursement aims to provide a financial contribution towards travel costs incurred by students who reside 20 miles or more away from the University of Sunderland (SR1 3SD or SR6 0DD or SR6 0AN). The reimbursement is offered as part of our commitment to ensure that students who wish to attend Open Day events can do so, therefore enabling them to make an informed decision on where they wish to study.

2. Eligibility

To receive the travel reimbursement:

Students must pre-register for an on-campus Open Day
Students must attend one of the identified eligible Open Days at the University of Sunderland, which they have registered for
Students must have checked in on the day with a member of the Open Day team
Students must have travelled 20 miles or more from their home address (one way) registered on our CRM system to the University of Sunderland City Campus (SR1 3SD) or Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s (SR6 0DD) or Wearside View (SR6 0AN), depending on the event location
Students must live in the United Kingdom.

The following groups are not eligible:

Current University of Sunderland students
Students attending any other type of visit/event (e.g. campus tour, individual tour, School/college visit)
Students who have not travelled 20 miles or more (one way) from their home address to the University of Sunderland City Campus (SR1 3SD) or Sir Tom Cowie Campus at St Peter’s (SR6 0DD) or Wearside View (SR6 0AN)
Guests are not eligible to claim the travel reimbursement.

3. Claim

To claim the University of Sunderland Open Day Travel Reimbursement, students must complete the online Travel Reimbursement Form after attending the event.

The amount received will be the amount paid for standard class coach or rail fare, or mileage at the applicable rate up to the maximum amount in the relevant band, dependent on the distance travelled. Mileage will be calculated at 45p per mile for journeys below 149 miles (return) and 25p per mile for journeys in excess of 149 miles return. Travel is calculated using the fastest route

Students must provide ID on the day of the Event or email it through afterwards to travel.bursary@sunderland.ac.uk. Acceptable forms of ID include a bank card, student card, driving license, or passport

Students must send or bring a copy of their bus/rail/coach/air/ferry tickets if applicable, displaying the price

If claiming for bus/rail/coach/air/ferry travel the location start point will be matched against the student’s registered address on our CRM system

Prospective students can only claim for either a travel ticket or mileage to the open day, they cannot claim for both

For those students who have stayed overnight, we will consider this as part of their claim, given the value is within their eligibility bracket

For students who have incurred parking costs off-site as a result of being unable to park on campus, you can claim for these charges, as long as you have photographic evidence of payment and the reimbursement is within the eligibility bracket

The claim will only be processed once attendance at the event has been verified by Home Student Recruitment

The student must enter their own bank details onto the form. If the bank details do not match the student’s name on the form, the payment cannot be processed

Claims can be submitted up to two weeks after the event has passed. Any claims submitted after this date will not be processed

Please note forms can be filled in and submitted in advance however these will not be processed until attendance has been confirmed at the event that the submission is for.

4. Value of the reimbursement

Value of award

Up to £100.

Number of awards

Unlimited (Limited to 1 per person).

Composition of award:

When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 20-69 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £30
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 69-149 miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £50
When the distance between the travel/home postcode and the University postcode is 149+ miles (one way), the travel bursary amount will be up to £100

If you have any questions, please email us at  travel.bursary@sunderland.ac.uk.

Every effort has been made to ensure that all details about the Open Day Travel Reimbursement are correct at the time of writing. The University of Sunderland has the right to withdraw or amend the Open Day Travel Reimbursement at any time.