Study Life Award (moeglicherweise funktionaler Nachfolger fuer Studierende aus benachteiligten Gebieten)

Study Life Award (Cardiff Metropolitan University)

You get support worth up to about 1,120 EUR per year (up to £950) towards your everyday university costs, such as accommodation, course materials, food, printing and travel. You do not receive cash. Instead you get a mix of printing credits, lunch vouchers and discounted local travel. You can renew it each year of your course, from foundation level up to the fourth year if your programme runs that long. Cardiff Metropolitan University in Wales gives the award to students from low-income households who live in areas where few people go to university.

Who can apply

• Fee status: You pay UK home fees, not international fees (classed as a "Home" student).
• New student: You are a new Cardiff Met student applying through UCAS for a full-time undergraduate course starting at year one or foundation level. You also qualify if you move into year two or three from a Cardiff Met franchise course, for example an HND or foundation degree run at a partner college.
• Firm choice: You have named Cardiff Met as your firm choice on UCAS by 26 June 2026.
• Where you live: Your permanent home address is in an area where few people go to university. Check your postcode and age in the university's online eligibility checker.
• Household income: Your household income is under 30,000 GBP (about 35,000 EUR) per year. You confirm this through a means-tested Student Finance Wales or England application, completed by 31 August 2025, and you give "Consent to Share" your financial details.
• Care leavers and estranged students: If you have left care or are estranged from your family, you get the award automatically in your first year once your status is confirmed by 14 September 2026.
• Who is excluded: NHS-funded students and students at a partner franchise campus cannot receive the award.

How to apply

There is no separate application. Every new student is checked automatically against the criteria above. Places are limited by budget, and students on the lowest household incomes get priority. You are told by email between July and September if you have been selected.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is narrowly targeted: you must live in a low-participation area, have a household income under 30,000 GBP, and be a new Cardiff Met student. That keeps the eligible group small. Places are still capped by budget, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award. If you clearly fit and are on a very low income, your prospects are good, since the lowest-income applicants are funded first.