Eligibility

A limited number of scholarships are available. Meeting the eligibility criteria and being able to apply does not guarantee that you will recieve a scholarship. However, if you do not receive a personal circumstances scholarship, you may be eligible for the Leeds Bursary instead. 

To be eligible for a personal circumstances scholarship, you must:

  • Apply by the deadline.
  • Have no prior experience of higher education (this includes existing students studying at undergraduate level one or above).
  • Be a UK student applying for entry in 2026 into level one on a full-time funded undergraduate degree course at the University of Leeds (you must subsequently take up a place and remain on an eligible degree programme).
  • Be liable for the full UK undergraduate fees without receiving a subsidy from outside the University (for example, a government grant to cover all or part of the tuition fees or a scholarship directly from a business).
  • Be eligible to receive a UK student maintenance loan from Student Finance England, Student Awards Agency for Scotland, Student Finance NI or Student Finance Wales (if you are assessed as an EU migrant worker you are ineligible to apply). You can apply for a means-tested scholarship before your eligibility assessment has been finalised by the relevant student finance body.
  • Come from a household with an annual income which has been assessed as being £42,875 per year or below (you can apply for this scholarship before your household income assessment has been finalised by Student Finance England).
  • Not be due to receive any other scholarship or bursary (for example, you will not receive the Leeds Bursary alongside a scholarship based on household income).
  • Create a student finance application and choose to be assessed for finance based on household income so that we can consider your financial eligibility. In the application, you can enter £0 for tuition fees or maintenance loans if you do not wish to apply for loans. 

Selection criteria

Our shortlisting takes into account a range of indicators which may show that you are from a less-advantaged background. These indicators include, but are not limited to:

  • You have progressed to Leeds after successfully completing access routes (such as Access to Leeds, Reach for Excellence, Realising Opportunities or a Foundation Year).
  • You are part of the first generation in your family to enter higher education.
  • Your studies have been disrupted by circumstances in your personal, social or domestic life.
  • You live in a geographical area with low levels of progression onto higher education.
  • You have experienced time in local authority care or kinship care or are estranged from both of your parents.
  • You have caring responsibilities.
  • You have been recognised as a refugee by the UK government, or have been granted humanitarian protection status, or you are the partner or child of someone who has been granted refugee or humanitarian protection status.

School of Design scholarships

The School of Design offers The Clothworkers’ Affordability Scholarship for the following courses: 

  • BA Sustainable Fashion & BA Fashion Design Innovation: £3,000 for 3 years, plus an additional £2,000 in their first year for the purchase of a laptop.

  • BSc Textile Innovation and Sustainability: £6,625 per year for 3 years (£3,000 per year as a maintenance grant, plus an annual tuition fee discount of £3,625).

If you complete the application for the personal circumstances scholarship, you will be considered for these scholarships from your application, if you are eligible. 

Support from the University

Alongside the funding, you'll have access to one-to-one support and advice sessions, group workshops, mentoring opportunities, social events and monthly newsletters updating you on relevant activity on and off campus, through the Plus Programme.

Free prescriptions, dental treatment and eye tests

If you’re in receipt of the Means-tested Undergraduate Scholarship, you can apply for the NHS Low Income Scheme HC2. This entitles you to free prescriptions, free dental treatment, free eye tests, and help with the cost of glasses/contact lenses, and help with travel costs to NHS appointments.

You can apply for an NHS HC2 on the NHS website. You will need to provide a letter from the University to confirm that you receive a means-tested bursary or scholarship. Please email the Funding team at funding@leeds.ac.uk to request a letter to support your application.

How to apply

The deadline for applications for 2026 entry has now passed, and no further applications can be accepted.

If you have applied for a scholarship for 2026 entry, you should hear from us by August 2026.

Applications for 2027 entry will open in March 2027.

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.