Eligibility
Your eligibility is linked to your household income, as assessed by your awarding body (Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland).
You can choose how to receive the Leeds Bursary. It can be paid as:
- A cash award, payable in instalments into your nominated bank account.
- A discount against your tuition fees (we will inform the Student Loans Company to update your tuition fees loan, if required).
- A discount against your University of Leeds accommodation (paid directly to your accommodation).
The default option is a cash award. You can amend your choice up until the start of November, if you would prefer a different option.
Full-time students
If you are applying to start your full-time course in 2026, to be eligible you must be registered on an undergraduate, higher-education course lasting at least one year.
This includes:
- a degree (but not a degree apprenticeship as these have a different funding structure)
- a foundation degree
- a diploma of higher education (DipHE) or
- a certificate of higher education (CertHE).
You must also:
- Meet the eligibility criteria for receiving a Maintenance Loan from either Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Channel Islands or Isle of Man students do not qualify.
- Be home-rated for tuition fees, meaning you are eligible to pay tuition fees at the rate for home students, rather than the rate for overseas students.
- Be liable for the maximum tuition fee (£9,790 in 2026) or pro-rata equivalent for part-time students.
- Have not already achieved a degree-level or higher-level qualification. This stipulation does not apply if you are studying Nursing, Midwifery or Dental Hygiene and Therapy, and are eligible to receive full statutory funding (both maintenance loan and tuition fees loan).
- Be a registered student at the University for the relevant academic year.
- Have an assessed household income of below £42,875 if you commenced studies after August 2024.
- Not be undertaking a degree apprenticeship course.
- Not be on a study-abroad or work-placement year or be charged fees at the study-abroad/work placement fee rate.
- Have an approved student finance application in place for the relevant year. UK students who have their tuition fees paid by NHS England (or equivalent funding body for Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland) should read information about Leeds Bursary for NHS-funded students.
Part-time students
If you are applying to start your part-time course in 2026, to be eligible you must be registered on an undergraduate, higher-education course lasting at least one year.
This includes:
- a degree (but not a degree apprenticeship as these have a different funding structure)
- a foundation degree
- a diploma of higher education (DipHE) or
- a certificate of higher education (CertHE).
You must also:
- Be studying at least 30 credits a year (25% of a full-time course).
- Meet the eligibility criteria for receiving a Maintenance Loan from either Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. Channel Islands or Isle of Man students do not qualify.
- Be home-rated for tuition fees, meaning you are eligible to pay tuition fees at the rate for home students, rather than the rate for overseas students.
- Be liable for the maximum tuition fee (£9,790 in 2026) or pro-rata equivalent for part-time students.
- Have not already achieved a degree-level or higher-level qualification. This stipulation does not apply if you are studying Nursing, Midwifery or Dental Hygiene and Therapy, and are eligible to receive full statutory funding (both maintenance loan and tuition fees loan).
- Be a registered student at the University for the relevant academic year.
- Have an assessed household income of below £42,875 if you commenced studies after August 2024.
- Not be undertaking a degree apprenticeship course.
- Not be on a study-abroad or work-placement year or be charged fees at the study-abroad/work placement fee rate.
How much funding you can get
The level of support your receive depends on your household income and the year you start your studies.
Full-time students
This table shows how much financial support full-time students can receive per year based on their household income.
| Household income threshold | Award amount per year |
|---|---|
| £25,000 or below | £2,000 |
| £25,001 to 30,000 | £1,500 |
| £30,001 to £36,000 | £1,000 |
| £36,001 to £42,875 | £500 |
| Over £42,875 | Not eligible |
Foundation Year students
The amount you can get depends on which course you are studying.
Information for Foundation Year students is subject to Office for Students (OfS) approval.
The following courses qualify for both a standard Leeds Bursary and an additional tuition fee discount, regardless of how you choose to receive the bursary:
- Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc
- Studies in Science with Foundation Year BSc
- Gateway Year to Medicine MBChB.
| Household income threshold | Award amount per year | Extra tuition fee discount |
|---|---|---|
| £25,000 or below | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| £25,001 to £30,000 | £1,500 | £1,500 |
| £30,001 to £36,000 | £1,000 | £1,500 |
| £36,001 to £42,875 | £500 | £1,500 |
| Over £42,875 | Not eligible | Not eligible |
The following courses are charged a lower tuition fee, making them eligible for the standard Leeds Bursary only:
Part-time students
If you're studying part-time, your support will be a proportion of the full-time student package. The amount will be based on the credit load of your part-time course compared to an equivalent full-time course.
The tuition fee for your course will be calculated on the same basis.
This table shows the annual Leeds Bursary amount based on household income and number of credits (intensity of study).
| Household income threshold | 40 credits (33%) | 60 credits (50%) | 80 credits (67%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 or below | £834 | £1,250 | £1,670 |
| £25,001 to £30,000 | £500 | £750 | £1,000 |
| £30,001 to £36,000 | £344 | £500 | £670 |
| £36,001 to £42,875 | £164 | £250 | £335 |
| Over £42,875 | Not eligible | Not eligible | Not eligible |
How to apply
Full-time students
If you're a full time student you don't need to apply for the Leeds Bursary; your eligibility will be confirmed based on the information held on your student record and the information you provide to the Student Loans Company (SLC) when you apply for a maintenance loan.
If you meet the eligibility criteria, we will send an email to your University email account to confirm your award. After you have received the email you can choose how you wish to receive your funding.
You can be means-tested by SLC even if you do not wish to take out a maintenance or tuition fees loan. If you do not wish to take out a loan but still wish to be considered for a Leeds Bursary award, visit the Government's student finance forms page.
Part-time students
If you are studying part-time you will need to apply for the Leeds Bursary every year that you are studying with us.
You can apply in October, after you have registered as a student, by completing a short application form. Find out how to apply for the part-time Leeds Bursary.
Disclaimer
Our scholarships directory provides information about scholarships available at the University of Leeds. This directory is for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer of a scholarship.
Information about scholarships, including eligibility criteria, deadlines, and availability, may change from time to time. You should always refer to the full terms and conditions of any scholarship before applying.
Scholarship offers are made through a separate process. In the event that a scholarship offer is made in error, the University reserves the right to review and, where appropriate, withdraw or amend that offer prior to the student's acceptance. Once an offer has been accepted, the University will act in accordance with the applicable scholarship terms and conditions.