Fee's Finace

Undergraduate financial support

Undergraduate financial support

We recognise that sometimes our students need a little support. At BNU we are proud to be a friendly and inclusive university, offering an impressive package of Funds and bursaries to make sure that students can reach their potential. Our Funds and bursaries are financial grants which support specific students and you won’t need to pay anything back. Find out below if you could be eligible.

Apprentice and Partner Students: Unfortunately, due to funding regulations students studying on an apprenticeship course or with a partner institution cannot apply for the funds or Bursaries below. However, support may be available through your own institution of study or trust/employer and we would encourage you to contact them directly. You are welcome to contact us at bursary@bnu.ac.uk should you have any questions.

Subject to meeting eligibility criteria (please check for each offer) students are Limited to:

  • 1 Fund at the start of your BNU Journey (BNU Learning Resource Fund or First Generation Fund)
  • 1 Bursary per academic year (Not including Repeat Years of study)
  • Access to Financial support including 1 successful application per academic year to the BNU Financial Aid – Emergency Fund and the BNU Financial Aid – Hardship Fund

 Any fund, Bursary or Financial support will be removed immediately if: 

  • A student withdraws from a programme of study.
  • A student is suspended or excluded from the University.
  • A student has made any misrepresentation or acted fraudulently or dishonestly.
Funds

BNU Learning Resource Fund (formerly BNU Future Success) is here to help you get the most out of your course during your time with us. This package gives you the funds to buy goods specific to your study needs at a better value for money than other online stores. 

Awarding Amount: Each student will be given £150. This can then be spent on a range of goods and resources, applicable to your course, from the John Smiths student store. You will have 3-4 years depending on your degree time to spend this money. All our funds are paid to your BNU Future Success Account.

Criteria:

  • You must be a UK/Home student.
  • You must be studying on a full-time undergraduate course.
  • This will be offered to all new first year students during the September 2023 and February 2024 enrolment period.

When to Apply: Students do not need to apply for this fund as this will be automatically allocated to eligible students after the cooling off period in their first year. Look out for an email inviting you to your BNU Future Success Account.

How to Apply: Students do not need to apply for this fund as this will be automatically allocated to eligible students after the cooling off period in their first year. Look out for an email inviting you to your BNU Future Success Account.

Bursaries

Money should never be a barrier to education. If you are from a low-income family, an area with high levels of deprivation or an area where very few students go to university.

Awarding Amount: Subject to availability we will offer you up to £1,100 each year of your course to support you with your studies and living costs (Not including Repeat Years of study). Notification of awards are sent to your student email address. 

All our funds are paid to your BNU Future Success Account which you can log into using your BNU email and Password. Awarding amounts from this fund can be spent on the online store or withdrawn to your bank account before the 31/07/2024.

Criteria: To apply for this bursary, you must be a UK student in receipt of full funding which includes both tuition fee and maintenance loan and meet one of the below.

  • Have a combined household income of less than £25000 (Checked by your Student finance Maintenance loan above £9,500 [Outside of London], £12,500 [Inside London] or £8,000 [Living at Home] excluding any grants). See section 4.8 Maintenance Loan Entitlement); or 
  • Live in a low participation postcode, you can check here (POLAR4 quintiles 1 and 2); or 
  • Live in high deprivation area, you can check here (Index of Multiple Deprivation 40% most deprived) (Please use Topic: Finance & Economy and Map: Deprivation Indices IMD)

When to Apply: Students can apply once during the 23/24 academic year and should apply in line with their intake. Students previously on a BNU Bursary do not need to reapply.

How to Apply: This Bursary is currently at capacity and we are unable to accept applications at this moment in time. Please keep an eye on this page for any future availability. You are also welcome to explore our other financial support options. 

February Intake: Students already on this Bursary and part of the February intake will be checked automatically once starting their 23/24 academic year. 

If you’re a Care Leaver, we will offer you £1,100 each year to help you during your studies. We understand that you face additional challenges and we will do our best to support you at every stage of your studies.  

In addition to the bursary there will be an available room for you in our accommodation all year round*, assistance with your university application and a mentor from arrival, to graduation.

UCAS and Student Finance define a care leaver as “If you have been in the care of, or have been given accommodation by, your local authority (LA) for a period of at least 13 weeks ending after you turn 16”. Find out more information about additional funding for full-time students.

Awarding Amount:  Subject to availability we will offer you up to £1,100 each year of your course to support you with your studies and living costs (Not including Repeat Years of study). Notification of awards are sent to your student email address. 

All our funds are paid to your BNU Future Success Account which you can log into using your BNU email and Password. Awarding amounts from this fund can be spent on the online store or withdrawn to your bank account before the 31/07/2024.

Criteria: To apply for this bursary, you must be a UK student in receipt of full funding which includes both tuition fee and maintenance loan as well as the below.

  • You must be aged 25 or younger 
  • You must be a UK student 
  • You must provide evidence from your Local Authority of your Care Leaver status 
  • You need to select BNU as your unconditional firm offer 
  • You will need to disclose your status on your UCAS form or after enrolment.  
  • You must be studying an undergraduate degree or a degree with foundation year full-time or part time at one of our main campuses

*students are expected to pay the given rent and you may not be able to choose which Halls you are in subject to availability. Find out more information about accommodation.

When to Apply: Students can apply once during the 23/24 academic year and should apply in line with their intake. 

Students previously on a BNU Bursary do not need to reapply.

How to Apply:  You will be able to apply using your BNU email and password via this link: https://forms.office.com/e/LTjq0xqmU3 we aim to assess applications within 10 working days from the date they are received. However, please note this can take longer during busy periods of the year.

February Intake: Students already on this Bursary and part of the February intake will be checked automatically once starting their 23/24 academic year. 

If you’re an Estranged Student, we will offer you £1,100 each year to help you during your studies. We understand that you face additional challenges and we will do our best to support you at every stage of your studies.  

In addition to the bursary there will be an available room for you in our accommodation all year round*, assistance with your university application and a mentor from arrival to graduation.

View UCAS and Student Finance guidance on Estrangement definitions.

Awarding Amount: Subject to availability we will offer you up to £1,100 each year of your course to support you with your studies and living costs (Not including Repeat Years of study). Notification of awards are sent to your student email address. 

All our funds are paid to your BNU Future Success Account which you can log into using your BNU email and Password. Awarding amounts from this fund can be spent on the online store or withdrawn to your bank account before the 31/07/2024.

Criteria: To apply for this bursary, you must be a UK student in receipt of full funding which includes both tuition fee and maintenance loan as well as the below.

  • You must be aged 25 or younger 
  • You must be a UK student 
  • You must be estranged from your parents or guardians for a minimum of 3 years.
  • You need to select BNU as your unconditional firm offer 
  • You must meet the eligibility criteria of Student Finance England or an equivalent funding body as an estranged student 
  • You must be studying an undergraduate degree or a degree with foundation year full-time at one of our main campuses 

*students are expected to pay the given rent and you may not be able to choose which Halls you are in subject to availability. Find out more information about accommodation.

When to Apply: Students can apply once during the 23/24 academic year and should apply in line with their intake. 

Students previously on a BNU Bursary do not need to reapply.

How to Apply:  You will be able to apply using your BNU email and password via this link: https://forms.office.com/e/LTjq0xqmU3 

Please note we are not able to check applications until after the cooling off and enrolment period which will be 16/10/2023. After this we aim to assess applications within 10 working days from the date they are received. However, please note this can take longer during busy periods of the year.

This bursary is for students from the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater community. We understand that you face additional challenges and we will do our best to support you at every stage of your studies.  

In addition to the bursary there will be an available room for you in our accommodation all year round*, assistance with your university application and a mentor from arrival, to graduation

Awarding Amount:  Subject to availability we will offer you up to £1,100 each year of your course to support you with your studies and living costs (Not including Repeat Years of study). Notification of awards are sent to your student email address before the 31/07/2024.

All our funds are paid to your BNU Future Success Account which you can log into using your BNU email and Password. Awarding amounts from this fund can be spent on the online store or withdrawn to your bank account. 

Criteria: To apply for this bursary, you must be a UK student in receipt of full funding which includes both tuition fee and maintenance loan as well as the below.

  • You will need to disclose your ethnicity of GTRSB on your UCAS form or after enrolment  
  • You need to select Bucks as your unconditional firm offer 
  • You must be studying an undergraduate degree or a degree with foundation year full-time at one of our main campuses 

*students are expected to pay the given rent and you may not be able to choose which Halls you are in subject to availability. Find out more information about accommodation.

When to Apply: Students can apply once during the 23/24 academic year and should apply in line with their intake. 

Students previously on a BNU Bursary do not need to reapply.

How to Apply: You will be able to apply using your BNU email and password via this link: https://forms.office.com/e/LTjq0xqmU3 

Please note we are not able to check applications until after the cooling off and enrolment period which will be 16/10/2023. After this we aim to assess applications within 10 working days from the date they are received. However, please note this can take longer during busy periods of the year.

Financial Support

The BNU Financial Aid Fund exists to support students through the cost of living crisis who encounter a financial emergency and is separate to our Bursaries and Scholarships. The allowance provides immediate short-term relief as emergency payments that do not need to be repaid. This can include (but not exclusive to) new caring responsibilities, debt due to travelling home, lack of WIFI or mobile phone data, or a need for IT requirements/equipment.

Awarding Amount: The maximum amount available per student is capped at £200.00 and students can only be awarded once per academic year. Please note, there is no guarantee of an award and assessments are made on a case-by-case basis.

Criteria:

  • To Apply you must be a Home/UK or E.U student (in receipt of Student Finance Tuition Fee Funding) and complete the linked application below providing a brief outline of your circumstances and completing all mandatory fields.
  • E.U Students will need to upload a copy of their tuition fee funding confirmation from Student finance along with their supporting evidence.

When to Apply:  Students can apply once during each academic yearPlease note students starting in the 23-24 academic year will not be able to apply until they have started their course. 

How to Apply: If you are still studying you can apply here: https://forms.office.com/e/U3cSMUfDiu

We aim to assess applications within 2 working days from the date they are received. However, please note this can take longer during busy periods of the year.

The BNU Financial Aid- Hardship Fund provides discretionary financial assistance for students to help them access and remain in higher education.

It is particularly aimed for those students who need financial help to meet specific course and living costs that cannot be met from other sources of support. The fund can provide emergency payments for unexpected financial crises.

The University follows NASMA guidance when deciding how to allocate the funding.

Awarding Amount: This fund is assessed on a case to case basis, we cannot guarantee an awarding amount. All our funds are paid to your BNU Future Success Account.

Criteria:

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Students:

  • Must be a Home/UK or E.U student (in receipt of Student Finance Tuition Fee Funding)
  • Studying Full time or Part-Time, Distance Learning or Sandwich courses (Part-time students must be studying the equivalent of 50 per cent of a full-time course)
  • Must not be a debtor to the University and must be up to date with their tuition fee payment plan.
  • Been approved for student finance or equivalent funding body for their current academic year of study.
  • Must be able to demonstrate that they have made adequate provision to fund their Tuition Fees and living costs.

When to Apply: Students must be enrolled and within their course start and end dates for their current academic year of study. Students completing referral work outside of these dates can apply with an official end date extension.

How to Apply: Please note for students starting the 23/24 academic year we are not able to check applications until after the cooling off and enrolment period which will be 16 October 2023. If you are still studying please contact the Students' Union Advice Centre. Email suadvice@bucks.ac.uk or call 01494 603016 to apply.

The government offers Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) to help meet the extra costs of studying that some students face as a direct result of a disability, mental health difficulty, specific learning difficulty or chronic medical condition.

How to Apply: Find out how to apply.

External Support

If you are a student studying a course linked to the NHS, we recommend you visit this NHS website to explore what bursaries are on offer and information on how to apply.

The RCN Foundation have a number of exciting grants open for applications this autumn. Applicants do not need to be an RCN member to apply; for further eligibility details, see the individual grant pages.

Hardship grant: RCN Foundation Benevolent Service

This fund exists to help nurses, midwives and health care support workers make ends meet during times of financial hardship. Whether you’re retired, unemployed or in work, we can provide support. Grants can be offered no more than once per calendar year.

Open year-round: Apply now.

BNU are proud to support the wider armed forces community and offer programmes for UK Armed Forces personnel that maps the skills of staff to the characteristics of typical civilian businesses and services.

The Armed forces offers a range of different financial support, Bursaries and Scholarships for selected candidates during further and higher education. Click the relevant link and service below to find out more on these opportunities.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) currently run a bursary for eligible apprentices who are in care or are care leavers. 

They currently offer £1000.00 for those who started their apprenticeship up to and including 31st July 2023. They also offer £3000.00 for those starting after or on 1st August 2023 paid in instalments over their first year. 

Full information and Criteria can be found here: Apprenticeships care leavers’ bursary guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Please complete this application form with required evidence and return to apprenticeships@bnu.ac.uk as the apprenticeships team will need consent to share your Care Leaver Status with your employer.

hands using a calculator and holding a BNU financial support document
White piggy bank

If you need extra financial help in addition to student funding, please contact the Students’ Union Advice Centre

Useful websites to assist financial planning 

If you are looking for further financial advice and guidance you can find out more information from the following: