BU offers two types of bursaries intended for students in need of additional financial assistance: the BU Maintenance Bursary and the BU Care Leavers Bursary.
There is no need to apply, as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application and given consent to share this information. You can check the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursaries below, based on your relevant year of entry. If you feel you meet the eligibility criteria and have not received an award, please contact AskBU.
If you are currently on a part-time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact AskBU.
How are bursaries paid?
Your bursary will be loaded onto a pre-paid card. The money will be made available to you in nine instalments from October to June. You can only spend money that’s in your account, so you can’t go overdrawn, and you can receive up to 2% cashback on purchases at certain retailers. You will be advised of the full terms and conditions when you collect your card following enrolment at BU.
Further information
2025 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2025
Eligible new students with a household income of £16,000 or below will receive a bursary of up to £2,400 (up to £3,200 if studying a Foundation Year) to support their learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £800 in your first year, and, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria, £800 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £800.
How to apply for a BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
If you're applying to study a part-time course, you will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2026 if you're joining us in September 2025.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- be registered as Home for fee status; and
- live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- be studying a first degree (including Top-ups)
- have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the bursary***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2025
You will receive up to £9,000 over three years of study (up to £12,000 if you are studying a Foundation Year) to support your learning and living costs, should you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £3,000.
How to apply for the BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
Provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application and noted you are a care leaver, and given consent to share this information, BU will then contact you by email to request appropriate evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Care Leavers applying to study a part-time course will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2026 if you're joining us in September 2025.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- be registered as Home for fee status; and
- live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- have a household income of £16,000 or less***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Care Leavers Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
2024 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2024
Eligible new students with a household income of £16,000 or below will receive a bursary of up to £2,400 (up to £3,200 if studying a Foundation Year) to support their learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £800 in your first year, and, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria, £800 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £800.
How to apply for a BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
If you're applying to study a part-time course, you will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2025 if you're joining us in September 2024.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- be registered as Home for fee status; and
- live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- be studying a first degree (including Top-ups)
- have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the bursary***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2024
You will receive up to £9,000 over three years of study (up to £12,000 if you are studying a Foundation Year) to support your learning and living costs, should you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £3,000.
How to apply for the BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
Provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application and noted you are a care leaver, and given consent to share this information, BU will then contact you by email to request appropriate evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Care Leavers applying to study a part-time course will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2025 if you're joining us in September 2024.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- be registered as Home for fee status; and
- live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- have a household income of £16,000 or less***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Care Leavers Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
2023 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2023
Eligible new students with a household income of £16,000 or below will receive a bursary of up to £2,400 (up to £3,200 if studying a Foundation Year) to support their learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £800 in your first year, and, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria, £800 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £800.
How to apply for a BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
If you're applying to study a part-time course, you will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2024 if you're joining us in September 2023.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- be registered as Home for fee status; and
- live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- be studying a first degree (including Top-ups)
- have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the bursary***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Commercial Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2023
You will receive up to £9,000 over three years of study (up to £12,000 if you are studying a Foundation Year) to support your learning and living costs, should you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £3,000.
How to apply for the BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
Provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application and noted you are a care leaver, and given consent to share this information, BU will then contact you by email to request appropriate evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Care Leavers applying to study a part-time course will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2024 if you're joining us in September 2023.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- be registered as Home for fee status; and
- live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- have a household income of £25,000 or less***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
2022 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2022
Eligible new students with a household income of £16,000 or below will receive a bursary of up to £2,400 (up to £3,200 if studying a Foundation Year) to support their learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £800 in your first year, and, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria, £800 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £800.
How to apply for a BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
If you're applying to study a part-time course, you will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2023 if you're joining us in September 2022.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- Be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay); and
- Live in England, and have ordinarily been a resident in England for three years prior to the course start date*
- Be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- Be studying a first degree (including Top-ups)
- Have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the bursary***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2022
You will receive up to £9,000 over three years of study (up to £12,000 if you are studying a Foundation Year) to support your learning and living costs, should you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £3,000.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- Have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- Be registered as Home for fee status; and
- Live in England and have been ordinarily resident in England for three years prior to the start date of your course*
- Be a new student, actively participating on and Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- Have a household income of £25,000 or less***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
How to apply for a BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
Provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application and noted you are a care leaver, and given consent to share this information, BU will then contact you by email to request appropriate evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Care Leavers applying to study a part-time course will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility
The deadline for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment is below. Please note that after this deadline, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2023 if you're joining us in September 2022
2021 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2021
Eligible new students with a household income of £16,000 or below will receive a bursary of up to £2,400 (up to £3,200 if studying a Foundation Year) to support their learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £800 in your first year, and, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria, £800 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £800.
How to apply for the BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
If you're applying to study a part-time course, you will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2022 if you're joining us in September 2021
- 31 May 2022 if you're joining us in January/February 2022
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- Be registered as 'Home' for fee status. (not Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or Republic of Ireland); and
- Live in England, and have ordinarily been a resident in England for three years prior to the course start date*
- Be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- Be studying a first degree (including Top-ups)
- Have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the bursary***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2021
You will receive up to £9,000 over three years of study (up to £12,000 if you are studying a Foundation Year) to support your learning and living costs, should you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £3,000.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- Have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- Be registered as 'Home' for fee status. (not Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or Republic of Ireland); and
- Live in England, and have ordinarily been a resident in England for three years prior to the course start date*
- Be a new student, actively participating on and Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- Have a household income of £25,000 or less***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
How to apply for the BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
Provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application and noted you are a care leaver, and given consent to share this information, BU will then contact you by email to request appropriate evidence that you meet the eligibility criteria.
Care Leavers applying to study a part-time course will need to contact us via the AskBU webpage to be assessed for eligibility.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2022 if you're joining us in September 2021
- 31 May 2022 if you're joining us in January/February 2022
2020 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2020
Eligible new students with a household income of £16,000 or below will receive a bursary of up to £2,400 to support their learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £800 in your first year, and, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria, £800 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students and Foundation Degree students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support learning and living costs | £800 | £800 | £800 |
| TOTAL | £800 | £800 | £800 |
How to apply for the BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply* as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2021 if you're joining us in September 2020
- 31 May 2021 if you're joining us in January/February 2021
*If you are currently on a part time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact us via the AskBU webpage.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) or be an EU national; and
- live in England or the EU, and have ordinarily been a resident in England or the EU for three years prior to the course start date*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- be studying a first degree
- have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the bursary***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2020
You will receive up to £9,000 over three years of study to support your learning and living costs, should you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying a Top-up degree lasting one year, you will receive £3,000.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support living and learning expenses | £3,000 | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| TOTAL | £3,000 | £3,000 | £3,000 |
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) or be an EU national; and
- live in England or the EU, and have ordinarily been a resident in England or the EU for three years prior to the course start date*
- be a new student, actively participating on and Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- have a household income of £25,000 or less***.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
How to apply for the BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students.
There is no need to apply* as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2021 if you're joining us in September 2020
- 31 May 2021 if you're joining us in January/February 2021
*If you are currently on a part time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact us via the AskBU webpage.
2019 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2019
If you're an eligible new student with a household income of £16,000 or below you will receive a £3,500 bursary to support your learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £1,300 in your first year, and £1,100 in your second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. DipHE Operating Department Practice students will receive £2,400 split over two years of study.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students and Foundation Degree students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support learning and living costs | £1,300 | £1,100 | £1,100 |
| TOTAL | £1,300 | £1,100 | £1,100 |
If you're a new student and your household income is between £16,001 and £25,000, you'll be eligible for a £3,000 bursary. You'll receive £1,000 in your first, second and final years of study. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. DipHE Operating Department Practice students will receive £2,000 split over two years of study.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students and Foundation Degree students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support learning and living costs | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| TOTAL | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
How to apply for the BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students*.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information. If you believe you meet the criteria for our Maintenance Bursary but have not received confirmation from BU, then you will need to contact our Student Finance Team via the AskBU webpage.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2020 if you're joining us in September 2019
- 31 May 2020 if you're joining us in January 2020
*If you are currently on a part time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact us via the AskBU webpage.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) or be an EU national; and
- live in England or the EU, and have ordinarily been a resident in England or the EU for the last three years prior to the course start date*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- be studying a first degree
- have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the £3,500 bursary***
- have a family income of between £16,001 and £25,000 to qualify for the £3,000 bursary***
- have selected BU as your firm choice through UCAS.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2019
This bursary has a value of £6,000 in Year 1 of your studies with potential for further support going into Year 2 and your final year.
Care Leavers will be required to evidence that they have been in a ‘care’ environment for at least 3 months within the 5 years before joining BU.
A full breakdown is shown below for Foundation* or Honours Degree (FdA/FdSc/BA/BSc/LLB) Care Leavers Students. The amount received will be pro-rata for part-time study. If you are studying DipHE Operating Department Practice, you will receive £6,000 in your first year and £5,000 in your second year, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support living and learning expenses | £6,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| TOTAL | £6,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
All care leavers are guaranteed a bursary.
*Please note – Foundation degrees have a two year duration.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) or be an EU national; and
- live in England or the EU, and have ordinarily been a resident in England or the EU for three years prior to the course start date*
- be a new student, actively participating on and Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- have a household income of £25,000 or less***
- have selected BU as your firm or first choice through UCAS.
*Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
Students repeating units at a level of study for which they have already undertaken, will not normally be eligible for bursary funds.
How to apply for a BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students*.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information. If you believe you meet the criteria for our Care Leavers Bursary but have not received confirmation from BU, then you will need to contact our Student Finance Team via the AskBU webpage.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2020 if you're joining us in September 2019
- 31 May 2020 if you're joining us in January 2020
*If you are currently on a part time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact us via the AskBU webpage.
2018 entry
BU Maintenance Bursary 2018
If you're an eligible new student with a household income of £16,000 or below you will receive a £3,500 bursary to support your learning and living costs. You'll be awarded £1,300 in your first year, and £1,100 in your second and final years of study.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students and Foundation Degree students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support learning and living costs | £1,300 | £1,100 | £1,100 |
| TOTAL | £1,300 | £1,100 | £1,100 |
If you're a new student and your household income is between £16,001 and £25,000, you'll be eligible for a £3,000 bursary. You'll receive £1,000 in your first, second and final years of study.
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students and Foundation Degree students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support learning and living costs | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
| TOTAL | £1,000 | £1,000 | £1,000 |
How to apply for the BU Maintenance Bursary
The BU Maintenance Bursary is awarded to all eligible students*.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information. If you believe you meet the criteria for our Maintenance Bursary but have not received confirmation from BU, then you will need to contact our Student Finance Team via the AskBU webpage.
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2019 if you're joining us in September 2018
- 31 May 2019 if you're joining us in January 2019
*If you are currently on a part time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact us via the AskBU webpage.
To be eligible for a BU Maintenance Bursary, you must:
- be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) or be an EU national; and
- live in England or the EU, and have ordinarily been a resident in England or the EU for the last three years*
- be a new student, actively participating on an Undergraduate BU course or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- be studying a first degree
- have a family income of £16,000 or less per year to qualify for the £3,500 bursary***
- have a family income of between £16,001 and £25,000 to qualify for the £3,000 bursary***
- have selected BU as your firm choice through UCAS.
*Students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are excluded from receiving the BU Maintenance Bursary due to alternative funding arrangements being available to them. Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
BU Care Leavers Bursary 2018
This bursary has a value of £6,000 in Year 1 of your studies with potential for further support going into Year 2 and your final year.
Care Leavers will be required to evidence that they have been in a ‘care’ environment for at least 3 months within the 5 years before joining BU.
A full breakdown is shown below for Foundation* or Honours Degree (FdA/FdSc/BA/BSc/LLB) Care Leavers Students:
(*Please note – Foundation degrees have a two year duration)
| Honours Degree (BA/BSc/LLB) students | Year 1 | Year 2 | Final Year |
| Bursary payment to support living and learning expenses | £6,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
| TOTAL | £6,000 | £5,000 | £5,000 |
All care leavers are guaranteed a bursary.
To be eligible for a BU Care Leavers Bursary, you must:
- have been in care for a period of 3 months or more in the last 5 years
- be a UK national, or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay) or be an EU national; and
- live in England or the EU, and have ordinarily been a resident in England or the EU for three years prior to the course start date*
- be a new student, actively participating on and Undergraduate BU or Wiltshire College Salisbury** course (excluding HNC/HND) on a full or part-time basis
- have a household income of £25,000 or less***
- have selected BU as your firm or first choice through UCAS.
*Ordinarily resident has been defined as 'habitual and normal residence in one place.’ It means that you live in a country year after year by choice through a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences, such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident. The course start date is defined as 1 September for September entrants and 1 January for January/February entrants.
**Applies to: BA (Hons) Photography and BA (Hons) Film Production and Cinematography. If you're studying at one of our other Partner Colleges, you will need to contact them for information about financial support.
***You will need to meet the eligibility criteria each year in order to qualify for the full bursary.
How to apply for a BU Care Leavers Bursary
The BU Care Leavers Bursary is awarded to all eligible students*.
There is no need to apply as you should automatically receive the bursary if you meet the eligibility criteria, provided you have completed an income assessment as part of your student finance application, and given consent to share this information. If you believe you meet the criteria for our Care Leavers Bursary but have not received confirmation from BU, then you will need to contact our Student Finance Team via the AskBU webpage
The deadlines for completing the process of self-identification and the required income assessment are below. Please note that after these deadlines, you will not be able to receive an award even if you meet the eligibility criteria:
- 31 January 2019 if you're joining us in September 2018
- 31 May 2019 if you're joining us in January 2019
*If you are currently on a part time course and feel you meet the eligibility criteria for the BU Bursary, please contact us via the AskBU webpage.
