Bursaries
Bursaries
Finding funds to join a program abroad doesn’t have to be challenging. There are many options available, such as checking to see if we have any scholarships available or raising funds via our fundraising page.Â
Alternatively, if you’re a citizen of the United Kingdom, you might qualify for a bursary to help fund your program. You can learn more by visiting or contacting one of the colleges or universities mentioned below.
Testimonial
Hi I’m Meg, I’m 19 and currently taking a gap year, using it to travel as much as possible. I have been on the GVI under 18s trips to Cape Town for two weeks and also the Community Development Internship in India for 3 months – both were amazing!
In order to fund both of these trips I got in contact with a few local organisations who gave me a grant to help pay for GVI. I just sent an email to our local round table and rotary club then all I had to do was fill out a small application form. The village I live in also has a foundation that provides grants for young people doing trips similar to GVI and they sent me another application form.
After the trips I just sent them an email to tell them how I had got on. I would definitely recommend getting in touch with local round tables or rotary clubs to see if they offer grants.
For my next GVI trip I am really keen to visit Ghana on their Child Development Project. After university I would really like to look further into a career in the Community Development industry.
Meg Smith – Bursary recipient
UNIVERSITY SPECIFIC BURSARIES
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY – GATEWAY BURSARY SCHEME
Who qualifies:
- In receipt of a standard or alternative A2B (Access to Birmingham) offer
- Registered as disabled / in receipt of a disability student allowance
- A care leaver or care experienced student
- First generation of the family into higher education
- From a lower income background i.e. in receipt of a grant or scholarship
- A lone parent (you are a single parent of one or more children)
- From an ethnic minority
How to apply:
Via the University of Birmingham’s website.Â
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
BIRMINGHAM UNIVERSITY – WORK EXPERIENCE BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Open to all undergraduate students
How to apply:
Via the University of Birmingham’s website.
ANGLIA RUSKIN UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Up to £300 p.a. if income ≤£42,875 (ARU Bursary)
BATH UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000Â
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
£3,000-£5,000 on top of student finance
Additional notes:
These bursaries are not specific to internships but can be utilised by students to cover internships.
BATH SPA – WIDENING PARTICIPATION BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000Â
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £3.500
BIRKBECK, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON – DEGREES IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCES
Who qualifies:
- Earth Sciences degrees
How to apply:
Via the university.
BOURNEMOUTH UNIVERSITY – PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITY FUND
Who qualifies:
- Registered as disabled / in receipt of Disability Student Allowance
- A care leaver or care experienced student
- First generation of the family into higher education
- From a lower income background i.e. in receipt of a grant or scholarship
- AÂ single parent of one or more children
- From an ethnic minority
How to apply:
Via the university.
NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY – RISE
Who qualifies:
- Fully-enrolled NTU undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students can only receive one travel bursary or scholarship from NTU Global per academic year.
How to apply:
Via the university
Funds available:
£200 travel within Europe, £500 travel outside Europe
Additional notes:
You will need to submit information about your overseas experience and outline how the award and your overseas experience will benefit you academically, personally and professionally. Only available to NTU students who have a student log on.
SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY – INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERING SCHOLARSHIP
Who qualifies:
- The 10 scholarships are available to all undergraduate students who are not currently in their final year and are in receipt of a university bursary.
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Funds available:
10 scholarships of £1,000
UNIVERSITY OF WARWICK – SIR PETER HOLMES MEMORIAL AWARD
Who qualifies:
- Projects involving travel to Asia with projects relating to disciplines of geography and environmental conservation.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
£1,000
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON (UCL) – EXPEDITION AND TRAVEL GRANTS
Who qualifies:
- Must be a UCL student, the chosen program has to show teamwork and challenging independent travel.
How to apply:
You can apply here.
ST JOHN’S UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE – TRAVEL GRANTS
Who qualifies:
- St John’s students – there are many different grants here.
How to apply:
You can apply here.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY – TRAVEL GRANTS
Who qualifies:
- Students attending certain colleges.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON – £1,000 AMECA BURSARY GRANT
Who qualifies:
- Students of health-related disciplines
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
£1,000
CANTERBURY CHRIST CHURCH – PARTNER SCHOOL BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students from partner schools.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500 per year
UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON – ENGAGEMENT FOR PROGRESSION
Who qualifies:
- Based on income.
How to apply:
Via the university.
EDGE HILL – EMPLOYABILITY PROJECT BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Open to all undergraduate students.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
UCLAN/CENTRAL LANCASHIRE – TRAVEL BURSARIES
How to apply:
Via the university.
CHESTER UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Student finance is linked to this bursary.
Funds available:
£1,000
CITY OF LONDON UNIVERSITY – WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Measured by area students are from.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
COVENTRY UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Measured by income and area in which student is from.
How to apply:
Via the university.
DERBY – LOW INCOME BURSARY AND BURSARIES FOR STUDENTS IN THE DERBYSHIRE AREA
Who qualifies:
- Measured on income and area based.
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
DURHAM – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Â People in the Durham, Newctasle and North East region.
- Placement employability fund if annual income is below £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
EAST ANGLIA – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Â People in North East England.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
EAST LONDON – ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRESSION BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
ESSEX UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME AND PARTNER SCHOOLS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,500 for low income and up to £1,000 for those from partner schools such as Colchester sixth form.
EXETER UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
- Students who lived in the Devon area before going to the university.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,650
FALMOUTH UNIVERSITY – CORNWALL RESIDENT BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Cornwall residents.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
GLOUCESTERSHIRE – ACADEMIC TRAVEL BURSARY
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
GREENWICH – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£700 on top of maintenance per semester
HERTFORDSHIRE – WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £21,000 in the Hertfordshire area.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
HULL – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution
Funds available:
Up to £5.000 a year
KEELE – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
KENT – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,000. Students on the Medway campus only.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,5000
KING’S COLLEGE LONDON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
KINGSTON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
LANCASTER – LOW INCOME AND SCHOLARSHIP FOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £30.000 and for high achievers (2:1 average and above).
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
LEEDS – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PERSPECTIVES
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,900.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
LEEDS BECKETT – PLACEMENT SUPPORT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
LEEDS TRINITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 in second year
LIVERPOOL – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000 who are Merseyside resident students in financial hardship (Hillsborough Trust Fund).
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
LIVERPOOL JOHN MOORES – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500
LONDON SOUTHBANK UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME AND LAWRENCE BURROWS EDUCATIONAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Residents with a maximum maintenance loan.
- UK/ EU residents of West Indian or Asian background.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
MANCHESTER – LOW INCOME AND WORK PLACEMENT
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000 or Manchester Access program.Â
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
NORTHAMPTON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
NOTTINGHAM – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.Â
How to apply:
Via the institution.
OXFORD UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £47,900.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
OXFORD BROOKES – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
PLYMOUTH UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.Â
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
PORTSMOUTH UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.Â
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £750
Additional notes:
Insert text here where applicable.
QUEEN MARY – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution or student finance with initial application.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700
READING – LOW INCOME AND PLACEMENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £27,000 with a placement either abroad or in the UK.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,100 for low-income and between £200-£1,000 for placement
ROYAL AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY – WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,700.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
ROYAL HOLLOWAY – LOW INCOME AND MATURE STUDENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Under £30,000 and students over 21.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
ROYAL VETERINARY COLLEGE – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
SOAS – LOW INCOME AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR THOSE TRAVELLING TO INDIA
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,500
SOUTHAMPTON UNIVERSITY – LOW INCOME AND BURSARIES FOR SPORTS INVOLVEMENT
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.Â
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000 – £3,000
SOUTHAMPTON SOLENT – UNPAID PLACEMENT BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Unpaid placements
How to apply:
Via the institution.
ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY OF LONDON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £42,900.
How to apply:
Via institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700
SANTANDER – GRANT
Who qualifies:
- University students whose university partner with Santander and thus have a branch on their campus.
How to apply:
Apply through contact with Santander on university campus – first come first served basis.
Funds available:
£250 – £1,000
ST MARY’S UNIVERSITY – HIGH ACHIEVERS AND LOW INCOME BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students who are from a low-income background and receive ABB+ at A level.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
SUFFOLK – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
SUNDERLAND – WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Students attending a Sunderland partner college.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up £500 for normal entry age and £2,500 cashback for those doing foundation years
SURREY – WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Those with low household incomes and in Surrey postcodes.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
UCFB – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000 in the Wembley area.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£3,500 (different on incomes above £25,000 but under £42,000)
UCL – WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- African or Caribbean males.
- Widening participation for London students from low income backgrounds.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 for London students and up £1,000 for Afro-Caribbean males
UNIVERSITY OF LAW – WIDENING PARTICIPATION/LORD BLUNKETT
Who qualifies:
- Partner institution + BBB at A Level, University of Nottingham undergraduate are prioritised for widening participation bursary.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
UNIVERSITY ARTS LONDON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students reliant completely on student finance.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
WARWICK – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000 and an extra £1,000 if their criteria met
WEST LONDON – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
UNIVERSITY OF WEST ENGLAND, BRISTOL – LOW INCOME BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
WINCHESTER – LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £25,000 and in partnered postcodes in the area.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 and up to £2,000 for those under £16,000
YORK – FIRST YEAR LOW INCOME BURSARY AND THEN STANDARD LOW INCOME
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £35,000.Â
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000 in the first year and £1,000 for the last two to three years
BURSARIES AVAILABLE ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM
UNIVERSITY OF LONDON – HIGHER ACHIEVERS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Students from low-income backgrounds that achieve 2:1 grades can receive up to £2,000 a year. The application for bursary comes with the student finance application and is received every year as long as the grade is maintained.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Additional notes:
No limit on number of applicants.
GO OVERSEAS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- No requirements (including no grades/or age).
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500 available
Additional notes:
Two applications available a year. Applicants have to send in a short essay about their volunteering opportunity abroad
LORD MAYOR’S 800TH ANNIVERSARY TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 17-24.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£50 – £1,000 available
Additional notes:
Two applications a year (late spring, late fall)
HAZEL’S FOOTPRINTS TRUST FOOTPRINTER GRANT
Who qualifies:
- People aged 18 years and over.
- Project must be a minimum of six months in a developing country.
- Open to UK and Europe residents.
Additional notes:
Deadline mid-March and late September.
JACK PETCHEY FOUNDATION BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 11 to 25, who are living in London or Essex.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £400 (paid directly to volunteer company)
Additional notes:
Applications must be made three to nine months prior to program start date.
THE FERGUSON TRUST (UK) BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 16-18
- Open to those taking a gap year which includes a stint of volunteering
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£300
Additional notes:
Deadline is ongoing.
THE JOICEY TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People who live within Northumberland or East Scottish borders, for community development programs.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENT FUNDING
Who qualifies:
- Must be a student in HMC schools.
- Program must be for three months or more.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£400-£600. One hardship award of £1,000 is awarded whose financial needs prevent a gap year being possible.
THE CAPTAIN SCOTT SOCIETY BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Under 19s
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500
Additional notes:
Must apply before March of each year to be eligible.
THE SIR PHILIP RECKITT EDUCATIONAL TRUST BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Residents in Hull, Norfolk or the former East Riding of Yorkshire
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Additional notes:
The Trust’s assistance comes in the form of contributions towards the cost of travel, residence and attendance at conferences, lectures and educational courses.
JOHN MUIR TRUST – DES RUBENS AND BILL WALLACE GRANT
Who qualifies:
- UK applicants with Scottish ties.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£200 – £2,000
THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Open to society members.
- People aged 18 and over.
- Program must have a biological aspect.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Two bursaries at £500 available each year
BRITISH MEDICAL AND DENTAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Scholarships available for students doing degrees in the medical fields.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 for four weeks
THE WINSTON CHURCHILL MEMORIAL TRUST
Who qualifies:
- Offered for young people between 18-25.
- Varies widely from those in education to sustainable living and the arts.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £6,000
RDC FOUNDATION BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- People aged 11-19
How to apply:
Find out more here.
WIDENING PARTICIPATION BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students from BAME.
- Students from low-income at universities across the UK.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Varied depending on income, more funding for those households with an annual income of under £25,000.Â
CARE LEAVERS BURSARIES
Who qualifies:
- Students who have been in the care system.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £5,700 for the three academic years
Additional notes:
Apply directly through their universities or student finance.
SANTANDER BANK UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP GRANTS
Who qualifies:
- The partner universities are listed here.
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Additional notes:
The partner banks will be on the university campuses, students must go to the banks on their campus to receive the funding not a standard branch. Partner universities are also in Germany.
NORTHERN IRELAND BURSARIES
QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY, BELFAST – LOW INCOME AND WORK PLACEMENTS BURSARY
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £19,203.
- Work placements for humanities and social science
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£416 for low income and up to £1,000 for placements
ULSTER UNIVERSITY -LOW INCOME AND WIDENING PARTICIPATION (ACCESS BURSARY)
Who qualifies:
- Households with an annual income of under £19,203.
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Between £416 – £1,000