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Scholarships and bursaries explained

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Scholarships and bursaries are additional sources of financial support. Unlike student loans, these don't need to be paid back, so applying is a no-brainer.

To help you with your application, we've put together a list of our most frequently asked questions about scholarships and bursaries. For full details including eligibility criteria and application information, check out our scholarships and bursaries pages or read our top tips on how to apply.

Published: 18 May 2023

Step 1

We recommend reading the eligibility criteria and guidance notes of the scholarship or bursary you are interested in applying for before making your application.

Step 2

Log in to myApplication where you'll be taken to the homepage. Your username is your student number, which can be found on all correspondence you have received from us. If you are unsure of your student number, please contact Student Administration at studentadmin@sunderland.ac.uk. You can reset your password if you have forgotten it.

Step 3

Click on the e:Vision homepage at the top left of the screen. Then find the ‘Scholarships and Bursaries’ tile and select ‘Search the scholarships and funding catalogue’.

Step 4

Select the 'Search' button.

Step 5

We have multiple bursaries and scholarships available. Choose the one you would like to apply for and select ‘Apply’. If you would like to apply for more than one scholarship or bursary, please follow these steps for each one you are interested in.

Step 6

You'll now be shown an overview of the criteria for the award you have selected.

Please ensure that you have read the guidance document prior to applying. This can be found by clicking on the website hyperlink under the section titled ‘Application deadline’.

Once you've read the guidance document, if you would still like to apply, please return to the overview page and select ‘Start application’ which is at the bottom of the page.

Step 7

Select the scholarship or bursary you want to apply for. Then click ‘Select Application’.

Step 8

Next, select any tiles that are showing as ‘Incomplete’ (yellow in colour) and provide the details requested.

Please note – if, following your answers, the tile turns red, it has been determined that you are not eligible for the bursary/scholarship and a reason will be given.

Any questions marked * must be answered or you won't be able to proceed with the application. You may be asked to upload evidence based on your answers in support of your application.

Step 9

Once all the tiles have turned green, please check that all the information you have provided is correct to the best of your knowledge and may be used to assess your eligibility for funding. If you are happy to declare this, please tick the box.

Step 10

Select 'Submit'.

We'll review all applications received and inform you of the outcome once the application deadline has passed.

You can track the progress of your application online using the 'My Finance' page on your myApplication portal. If your application status is 'Pending', this means that it has been received and is being processed by the team. We'll be in touch to inform you of the outcome.

You can apply for a scholarship or bursary after you apply for a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate course at the University of Sunderland. You do not have to be holding an offer on a course to apply.

We recommend reading the eligibility criteria and guidance notes of the scholarship or bursary you are interested in applying for before making your application.

No, making an application does not mean you'll receive a bursary. Due to the high volume of applicants, we assess and prioritise all applications using the same fair and transparent process.

Yes, you can apply for both. Prior to making a scholarship or bursary application, please ensure that you have fully read the eligibility criteria.

Following the closing date, we'll assess your application fairly, based on the evidence you provide and your student record. We rank all applications in order of priority and will make provisional bursary awards to applicants in September.

When you have successfully enrolled onto an eligible University of Sunderland course, we'll confirm in November if you have been awarded a scholarship or bursary, subject to receipt of any evidence required.

Our priority for bursaries are the students from groups under-represented in higher education. The Office for Students (the higher education regulator) has defined these as:

  • Care-experienced
  • Estranged
  • Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters (GTRSB)
  • Asylum Seekers and Refugees
  • Carers
  • Students from lower income households
  • Mature students

Yes. Although we can assess most of your eligibility for a bursary from your student record, we'll need a teacher or other professional aware of your circumstances to provide evidence of your Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters; asylum seeker and refugee; or carer status. You'll need to submit this evidence when you make a bursary application.