Royal Holloway, University of London - Royal Holloway Bursaries

What you get

Royal Holloway, University of London, pays an annual grant of roughly 580 to 3,450 EUR (500 to 3,000 GBP), depending on your circumstances. It is automatically awarded to UK undergraduate students who require additional financial support. There are four types:

• Around 1,500 EUR (1,300 GBP) per year if your household income is below 25,000 GBP.
• Approximately 580 EUR (500 GBP) per year, if the amount is between 25,001 and 30,000 GBP.
• Around 3,450 EUR (3,000 GBP) per year if you have been discharged from care or are no longer in contact with your family.
• Around 1,150 EUR (1,000 GBP) per year for older students admitted on the basis of an ‘Access’ diploma.

The money will be paid directly into your bank account, usually in instalments spread throughout the year. If you complete your degree early, the basic amount will increase by 20%.

Who can apply

• Level: You are a full-time undergraduate student. Students on the four-year MSci programme are also included; Master’s students, however, are not.
• Where you study: Royal Holloway, University of London.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality and residence: You are from the UK and meet the residence requirements for England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. You will pay the home student tuition fees of 9,790 GBP for 2026/27.
• Financial need: Student Finance calculates your household income. To be eligible for the two means-tested grants, this must be less than 25,000 GBP or between 25,001 and 30,000 GBP.
• First degree: You do not yet hold a bachelor’s degree or a higher qualification.
• Care leavers bursary: You are between 18 and 25 years old. Either you have been in state care for at least 13 weeks since the age of 14, or you have ‘independent – other’ status with Student Finance England.
• Access entry bursary: You are 21 years old or older at the start of the course, your household income is 25,000 GBP or less, and you hold a QAA-recognised ‘Access to Higher Education’ diploma as well as an unconditional offer from Royal Holloway.
• No double-ups: No points are awarded for repeating a year or spending a year studying abroad.

How to apply

You do not apply for the scholarship directly. You must apply to Student Finance England for a means-tested loan. You and your parents or partner must give the Student Loans Company permission to pass on your household income to Royal Holloway. The university will then automatically check your eligibility. You will receive a response from Student Finance from the end of October.

How realistic are your chances?

These grants are not awarded on a competitive basis. There is neither a selection process nor a fixed total amount that could be exhausted. So, provided you meet the income and residence requirements, you will receive the payment. The only thing that causes difficulties for many people is the paperwork. Make sure you submit your application for means-tested student finance in good time and give your consent to the sharing of your data early on, as otherwise your application cannot be assessed.