Academic Registry

University Bursaries and Associated Discounts for New Students in 2013/14

The University of Portsmouth offers non-repayable bursaries which you may be eligible for. If you currently live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will be able to apply for different support through your home government and will not be eligible for University of Portsmouth Bursary.

  • University of Portsmouth Bursary and Associated Discounts

    All eligible English full-time undergraduate students starting their course at the University of Portsmouth in 2013, paying £8,750 tuition fees, whose assessed family incomes are £25,000 or less will receive a bursary of £1,000 and, if entering into higher education for the first time in 2013, a tuition fee or accommodation discount of £2,000 is also available. Cash bursaries will be paid for each year of full-time study and the £2,000 discount will be awarded in the first year of study only.

    Students with household incomes between £25,001 and £42,611 will receive a £500 - £1,000 bursary towards their living costs.

  • Assessed household incomeDiscountCash bursary
    £25,000 or less £2,000 in first year

    £1,000 in first year

    £1,030 in subsequent years
    Between £25,001 and £32,000 -

    £1,000 in first year

    £1,030 in subsequent years
    Between £32,001 and £42,611 -

    £500 in first year

    £515 in subsequent years

    Please note this bursary is not available to NHS funded or other sponsored students or to those on placement years or repeat years who are paying reduced rate tuition fees. Students on PGCE courses may be eligible for the cash element of the bursary only, not the tuition fee discount. For more information about the University of Portsmouth Bursary call our dedicated Fees and Bursary helpline on 023 9284 3052.

  • EU students

    Full-time undergraduate students starting their course at the University of Portsmouth in 2013, paying £8,750 tuition fees, whose assessed family incomes are £25,000 or less are eligible to apply for a fee discount of £2,000, if entering into higher education for the first time in 2013.  The £2,000 fee discount will be paid in the first year of study only.

    The fee discount is assessed on your household income depending on your home country.
    ·    £15,000 limit for Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland & Romania.
    ·    £20,000 limit for Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Slovakia & Slovenia
    ·    £25,000 limit for all other EU countries.

    Please note this fee discount is not available to PGCE students, NHS funded students, other sponsored students or to those on placement/repeat years who are paying reduced rate tuition fees. For more information about the fee discount call our dedicated Fees and Bursary helpline on 023 9284 3052.

  • How to apply

You do not need to apply to the University to receive these awards as we will automatically assess your eligibility using the information on your application to Student Finance England.

The university will be able to determine your eligibility for bursaries when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

    • You have applied to Student Finance England for means-tested support (Living Costs Grant)
    • The University of Portsmouth is stated on your Student Finance England application
    • Your household income has been verified by Student Finance England
    • You (and your parents or partner) have provided your consent to share your information with the University.

When applying for your tuition fee loan you should request the full tuition fee amount of £8,750. The University will advise you if you are eligible for a tuition fee discount and if that means you have applied for the incorrect tuition fee we will advise Student Finance England and they will change your loan amount to match the new fee.

If your circumstances change after you have made your initial application and you become eligible for a bursary we will let you know.

For further information, please see our 'Frequently Asked Questions'.

University Bursaries for Continuing Students who started in 2012/13

The University of Portsmouth offers non-repayable bursaries which you may be eligible for. If you currently live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland you will be able to apply for different support through your home government and will not be eligible for University of Portsmouth Bursary.

  • University of Portsmouth Bursary

    All eligible English full-time undergraduate students who started their course at the University of Portsmouth in 2012, paying £8,750 tuition fees, whose assessed family incomes are £25,000 or less will receive a bursary of £1,030.  This bursary will be paid for each year of full-time study.

    Students with household incomes between £25,001 and £42,611 will receive a £515 - £1,030 bursary towards their living costs.

  • Assessed household incomeCash bursary
    £25,000 or less

    £1,030 each year
    Between £25,001 and £32,000

    £1,030 each year
    Between £32,001 and £42,611

    £515 each year

    Please note this bursary is not available to NHS funded or other sponsored students or to those on placement years or repeat years who are paying reduced rate tuition fees. For more information about the University of Portsmouth Bursary call our dedicated Fees and Bursary helpline on 023 9284 3052.

  • How to apply

You do not need to apply to the University to receive these awards as we will automatically assess your eligibility using the information on your application to Student Finance England.

The university will be able to determine your eligibility for bursaries when all of the following conditions are satisfied:

    • You have applied to Student Finance England for means-tested support (Living Costs Grant)
    • The University of Portsmouth is stated on your Student Finance England application
    • Your household income has been verified by Student Finance England
    • You (and your parents or partner) have provided your consent to share your information with the University.

If your circumstances change after you have made your initial application and you become eligible for a bursary we will let you know.

For further information, please see our 'Frequently Asked Questions'.

University Bursaries for Continuing Students who started prior to 2012/13

In the 2013/14 academic year, when tuition fees will be £3,465, we are continuing to offer bursaries that are based on household income. If you are a continuing student who started prior to 2012/13 and meet the criteria, the maximum available is as follows:

  • Eligible Home students with a household income between £25,001 and £32,000 the bursary available is £600.
  • Eligible Home students with a household income between £0 and £25,000 the bursary available is £900.
  • Eligible EU students with a household income between £0 and £32,000 the bursary available is £600.

To qualify as an eligible student you must be paying the full time undergraduate fee for continuing students of £3,465 and you must not be sponsored or NHS funded.

For further information, please see our 'Frequently Asked Questions'.

The Local Colleges Bursary

This additional £300 annual bursary is not income-assessed. It is payable to eligible full-time continuing Home & EU undergraduate students in 2013/14, who started between 2007/08 and 2011/12 and have previously studied at an eligible college.

To qualify as an eligible student you must be paying the full time undergraduate fee for continuing students of £3,465. Sponsored and NHS funded students are not eligible for the bursary. The qualification(s) you gained at the local college must be at level 3 or below and must have contributed to you being awarded a place to study at the University.

The current list of eligible local colleges is:

  • Bay House School
  • Carisbrooke High School
  • Cowes High School
  • Fareham College
  • Havant College
  • Highbury College
  • Isle of Wight College
  • Medina High School
  • Oaklands School
  • Portsmouth College
  • Ryde High School
  • Sandown High School
  • South Downs College
  • St Vincent's College
  • University of Portsmouth (if you obtained a Further Education qualification, eg: an Access course)

You do not need to apply for this bursary but if you are concerned that we do not know you have studied at one of the local colleges, please contact bursary@port.ac.uk for further information.

For further information, please see our 'Frequently Asked Questions'.

The Role of Academic Registry

Our bursary rules are programmed into the Student Loans Company (SLC) national system, which is the same system used by Student Finance England to calculate household income and assess financial support.

Here at Academic Registry we process the bursaries that are automatically allocated to students by the Student Loans Company national system, when their household income is verified by Student Finance England. Through a Portal in the same system we approve bursaries for each eligible student, and the Student Loans Company then sends a letter to the student giving details of the amounts and dates of payment. (Although this letter is sent by the Student Loans Company, it will be on University of Portsmouth headed paper)

How to Apply

You do not have to apply directly to the University of Portsmouth for your bursary. Instead, we have made an arrangement with the Student Loans Company so that you can apply for a bursary when you apply for your student loans. When you are applying for your financial support you must make sure that both you and your sponsors carefully read the bursary section of your application form before you submit the application to Student Finance England.  You should apply online at www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and you will be directed to the bursary section as you go through the application screens.

The Student Loans Company will then make bursary payments directly into your bank account if you are eligible.

Need Advice?

If you have a specific question about your bursary, call Hayley Newell, Angela Smart or Katie Dou in Academic Registry on 023 9284 3429 / 3290 / 3451, or alternatively, you can e-mail bursary@port.ac.uk, where someone will be more than happy to help you.

Useful links

  • Direct.gov (for information, to apply online, or to download application forms).
  • University of Portsmouth Student Finance Centre (for a comprehensive range of information and assistance on all aspects of student finance).
  • Student Loans Company (for information on student finance).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - University of Portsmouth Bursary

    • How do I apply for a bursary?
      • You will be able to apply for the University of Portsmouth bursary as part of your statutory support application.
    • Can I still apply for the bursary if I am not applying for a tuition fee or maintenance loan?
      • You can still apply for the bursary by completing ONLY the bursary section of your statutory support application.
    • How is my household income assessed?
      • Household income is determined by Student Finance England through the Student Loans Company's national system when statutory support entitlement is assessed. Household income is used to calculate how much bursary you are entitled to.
    • How does the University of Portsmouth know if I'm entitled to a bursary?
      • The records of University of Portsmouth students who fall within our household income criteria are triggered into our bursary portal of the Student Loans Company's system for us to approve. This happens after your student funding has been finalised by Student Finance England.
    • How are bursaries paid?
      • Approved bursaries awards are paid directly into the student's bank account in 3 instalments by the Student Loans Company on our behalf. Payment is based on you being in attendance on set dates.
    • When are bursaries paid?
      • Payment will be made in 3 instalments. If you are not in attendance at a certain date before the bursary is due to be paid, you will no longer be eligible for that instalment.
    • What if I suspend or withdraw from my course?
      • If you suspend or withdraw from your course during the academic year, you may no longer be eligible for some or all of the bursary, based on when you suspend or withdraw. If you are not in attendance at certain trigger dates, you will not receive any bursary instalment that is reliant on that trigger date.
    • How do I know that the University of Portsmouth will give me a bursary?
      • The Student Loans Company's system automatically generates a letter of entitlement (on University of Portsmouth headed paper) to the student when an award is approved.
    • When will I receive my letter?
      • You should receive your letter shortly after your student funding has been approved by Student Finance England / SLC.
    • What will this letter look like?
      • The letter will be on University of Portsmouth headed paper. Please see this example of a ' Bursary Approval Letter'.
    • What if I opt out of the 'Consent to Share' declaration on my form by mistake?
      • If you or your sponsor(s) opt out of the 'Consent to Share' section, your household information cannot be sent to the University of Portsmouth which means we cannot provide you with a bursary. If you do opt out by mistake, you need to contact the Student Loans Company to give consent. This can be done via telephone on 0845 300 5090.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Local Colleges Bursary

    • I have studied at a local college that is not on the list. Will I still be entitled to the Local Colleges Bursary?
      • No, only students who have achieved a qualification at one of the designated colleges will be eligible for our Local Colleges Bursary.
    • I studied at one of the listed colleges some years ago. Am I still entitled to the Local Colleges Bursary?
      • Yes, if the qualification you obtained at the college forms part of your entry requirements to the University of Portsmouth. There is no time limit on college attendance.
    • I took a part-time course at one of the listed colleges. Will I get the Local Colleges Bursary?
      • Yes, if the qualification you obtained at the college forms part of your entry requirements to the University of Portsmouth. It does not matter which mode of study you followed to get your qualification.
    • How will I know whether I am eligible and how will I be paid?
      • You will receive a letter of entitlement. This letter is computer generated from the Student Loans Company national system, but bears our logo. The letter will confirm the amount you are eligible for, and the dates on which payment will be made directly into your bank account by the Student Loans Company of our behalf.
    • Do I need to notify the University that I have attended one of the Local Colleges in order to get my bursary?
      • No, we will be able to determine whether you are eligible for a Local Colleges Bursary from the information provided to us with your application. However, if you have not received a letter of entitlement by the time you come to register, you should contact Academic Registry by email to bursary@port.ac.uk, or telephone 023 9284 3429 / 3290 / 3451.
    • Will I receive the Local Colleges Bursary for each year of my course, or just for the first year?
      • The Bursary will be paid to eligible students for each year of study, but is, of course, based on attendance.