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.
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
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the University of Birmingham’s website.Â
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the University of Birmingham’s website.
Who qualifies:
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £3.500
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
Â
Funds available:
10 scholarships of £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
£1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
You can apply here.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
You can apply here.
Who qualifies:
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
£1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500 per year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
How to apply:
Via the university.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Student finance is linked to this bursary.
Funds available:
£1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the university.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,650
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£700 on top of maintenance per semester
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution
Funds available:
Up to £5.000 a year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,5000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 in second year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £750
Additional notes:
Insert text here where applicable.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution or student finance with initial application.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,100 for low-income and between £200-£1,000 for placement
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,500
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000 – £3,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,700
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Apply through contact with Santander on university campus – first come first served basis.
Funds available:
£250 – £1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up £500 for normal entry age and £2,500 cashback for those doing foundation years
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £3,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£3,500 (different on incomes above £25,000 but under £42,000)
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 for London students and up £1,000 for Afro-Caribbean males
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£1,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000 and an extra £1,000 if their criteria met
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,500
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £500 per academic year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Up to £1,000 and up to £2,000 for those under £16,000
Who qualifies:
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
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £2,000
Additional notes:
No limit on number of applicants.
Who qualifies:
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
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£50 – £1,000 available
Additional notes:
Two applications a year (late spring, late fall)
Who qualifies:
Additional notes:
Deadline mid-March and late September.
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£300
Additional notes:
Deadline is ongoing.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£500
Additional notes:
Must apply before March of each year to be eligible.
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
£200 – £2,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Two bursaries at £500 available each year
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £4,000 for four weeks
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Funds available:
Up to £6,000
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Find out more here.
Who qualifies:
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
Who qualifies:
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.
Who qualifies:
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
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
£416 for low income and up to £1,000 for placements
Who qualifies:
How to apply:
Via the institution.
Funds available:
Between £416 – £1,000