The Mayor's University Bursary Award

The Mayor's University Bursary Award

You get a one-off payment of about 1,750 EUR (1,500 GBP) to help with the cost of living during your first year at university, such as rent, books and study materials. The money is paid straight to you. It comes from Tower Hamlets Council in London, set up by the borough's mayor to help local young people from lower-income families through university. The council has set aside about 700,000 EUR (600,000 GBP) in total, enough for around 400 students.

Who can apply

• Where you live: You have lived in the London borough of Tower Hamlets for at least three years. If you are a refugee on the Ukraine or Afghanistan scheme, this rule does not apply to you.
• Degree: You are on a full-time undergraduate course (your first degree at university).
• Age: You are over 18 at the start of the academic year your course began.
• Income: Your household earns less than about 29,000 EUR (25,000 GBP) a year.
• Attendance: You meet your university's attendance requirements. The council checks this with your university.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.

How to apply

You apply online through the Tower Hamlets Council website. You need your National Insurance number and proof of your household income, such as a P60 or your last five weeks of payslips. If your application is refused, you can appeal online within 21 days of the decision letter.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly: you must have lived in Tower Hamlets for three years, study full-time as an undergraduate and come from a household under the income limit. With around 400 places funded and a small, local group of eligible students, your prospects are good if you clearly meet these conditions and can document your income. Watch for the application window, as rounds open and close on set dates.