Scholarships and bursaries

You may be able to partly or fully fund the costs of your study with a bursary or scholarship. You can usually use these alongside student loans and you don't have to pay them back.

Whether you can get a scholarship or bursary depends on your circumstances. So they aren't available to everyone.

These are the scholarships and bursaries we currently offer to home (UK) students. You may also be eligible for some of these scholarships and bursaries if you have refugee status or you're seeking asylum.

If you're an international student, we also have information on scholarships for international students (including our Transition Scholarship for EU students).

University of Portsmouth Bursary – £750 a year
Care Leavers Bursary – £1,700 a year
Stand Alone Bursary – £1,000 a year
Young Carers Bursary – £500 a year
Unite Scholarship – a free place in halls
Greenwich Hospital Bursary – £3,000 a year
Sport Scholarship
NHS Learning Support Fund – at least £5,000 a year
Portsmouth Football Club Partnership Scholarship – £3,000 a year towards course fees
Sanctuary Scholarship
Sanctuary Language Bursary

University of Portsmouth Bursary – £750 a year

You’ll get this bursary of £750 a year if you’re, a full-time undergraduate student from England, being charged full fees of £9,250, and your household income is £25,000 a year or less.

You can’t get this bursary if a sponsor (such as an employer or NHS organisation) is paying all or some of your tuition fees.

No need to apply

You don’t need to apply for this bursary. We’ll check if you’re eligible for it once you’ve applied to Student Finance England for income-based support and it has verified your household income.

On your Student Finance England application, you just need to make sure:

you’ve said you'll be studying at the University of Portsmouth
you (and your parents or partner) have given your consent to share your information with the University

If eligible, you’ll receive your bursary directly into your bank account in 3 instalments in December, February and May. If you’re not in attendance at the University at a certain date before the bursary is due to be paid, you won’t be eligible for that instalment.

This bursary is applicable for 2024/5 entry, as subject to review.

Care Leavers Bursary – £1,700 a year

You could get this £1,700 bursary if you're a full-time undergraduate or taught postgraduate UK student and one of the following applies:

You've spent at least 13 weeks in care, some of which was during your teens, and you're leaving the care system in the 12 months before you start university
You're a 'former relevant child pursuing education' – this usually means you've spent at least 13 weeks in care, some of which was during your teens, but may depend on your local authority

This bursary isn't based on your income. Recipients can also receive the University Bursary.

How to apply

If you're unsure of your eligibility, we can check for you – contact us by email at careleavers@port.ac.uk or phone us on 023 9284 3044.

If you're eligible, you may also be entitled to additional help and support for care leavers.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this bursary alongside the Stand Alone Bursary or Young Carers Bursary.

This bursary is applicable for 2024/5 entry, as subject to review.

Stand Alone Bursary – £1,000 a year

You could get this bursary of £1,000 a year if you're a full-time undergraduate UK student aged under 25 and estranged from your parents. It isn't based on your income. Recipients can also receive the University Bursary.

How to apply

Contact our Student Finance Centre to find out if you’re eligible for this bursary. If you're eligible, we'll tell you how to apply.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this bursary alongside the Care Leavers Bursary or the Young Carers Bursary.

This bursary is applicable for 2024/5 entry, as subject to review.

Young Carers Bursary – £500 a year

You could get this bursary of £500 a year if all the following apply:

you’re a full-time undergraduate UK student aged under 25
you have caring responsibilities for a parent or family member (but not a dependent child)
your family income is less than £25,000 a year

Recipients can also receive the University Bursary.

How to apply for the Young Carers Bursary

Contact our Student Finance Centre to apply for this bursary.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this bursary alongside the Care Leavers Bursary or the Stand Alone Bursary.

This bursary is applicable for 2024/5 entry, as subject to review.

Unite Scholarship – a free place in halls

This scholarship is awarded by the Unite Foundation and gives statutory Care Leavers or estranged students a free place in a Unite hall of residence for a maximum of 3 years.

There are a limited number of these scholarships, so not everyone who's eligible will be successful.

You can get this scholarship alongside the Stand Alone Bursary or Care Leavers Bursary.

How to apply for the Unite Scholarship

Applications for 2024/25 have now closed. Applications for 2025/26 are expected to open in January 2025.

Full details, including eligibility criteria and the application, are available online from the Unite Foundation.

Please contact the Student Finance Centre for more information.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this scholarship on foundation, repeat or placement years

London UoP students should contact the Student Finance Centre at the Portsmouth campus for advice about eligibility.

Greenwich Hospital Bursary – £3,000 a year

This is a bursary of £3,000 a year to cover some of your living costs. You could get this bursary if all of the following apply to you:

you’re a child of serving or retired Royal Navy or Royal Marine personnel, or you’re a retired member of the Naval Service who isn’t sponsored by the MOD
you’re a full-time undergraduate UK student
your household income is less than £40,000 a year

There are 3 bursaries available for University of Portsmouth students each year, so not everyone who’s eligible will get it.

How to apply for the Greenwich Hospital Bursary

Applications for the 2024/25 academic year are now open and the deadline for applying is 15 November 2024. To apply for this Bursary, please email studentfinance@port.ac.uk to request an application form.

Sport Scholarship

The Sport Scholarship programme supports talented athletes to reach both their sporting and academic potential whilst they are at University.

If you're competing at a regional, national, or international level in your sport, you may be eligible to apply. The programme is open to all students, irrespective of nationality, year of study or academic course.

Around 20 talented student athletes are awarded a scholar package each year, worth between £2,000 and £6,000. Including strength and conditioning sessions, physio, sports massage, lifestyle and academic support.

Not available to students at UoP London.

How to apply for a Sport Scholarship

Applications open in January each year and are awarded at the start of the academic year in September.

Apply now

For more details visit our sports pages.

NHS Learning Support Fund – at least £5,000 a year

From September 2020, new and continuing students on eligible nursing and allied health professional courses can get access funding from the extended NHS Learning Support Fund.

The funding is non-repayable and is in addition to any other support you are eligible for, including Government student loans.