The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust - Grants for undergraduate study

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust undergraduate bursary

You will receive about 575 to 3,450 EUR per year (£500 to £3,000) for each remaining year of your Bachelor’s degree. The exact amount depends on your household income and the funds available this year. Your university will receive the grant and pass it on to you. You can use it to cover all reasonable study-related costs, such as tuition fees, rent, living costs, travel expenses or equipment for your studies. You do not need to submit a new application each year. The funding will continue for as long as you remain enrolled on the same full-time degree programme, make good progress, achieve satisfactory results and your financial circumstances do not change significantly. The funding body is a UK charity linked to the food retail, pharmacy and commercial travel sectors.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are studying full-time towards your first bachelor’s degree at a recognised British university or higher education institution. Distance-learning programmes are not eligible.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Residence: You live in the UK.
• Trade connection: You, as a parent (including step-parents or foster parents), or your spouse, must have worked in the United Kingdom for at least 5 years in one of the following sectors and must still be working there: in the food retail sector (shops, wholesalers, food manufacturers, suppliers, convenience stores or petrol station shops, but not in head office or administrative roles); in a public pharmacy, or as a registered pharmacist or pharmacy technician; or as a travelling sales representative (a sales representative for a manufacturer or wholesaler who does not sell to the general public and spends at least 6 months of the year travelling).
• Financial need: Priority is given to households with an income below £50,000.. If your household earns more than £90,000,, you are not eligible to apply.
• Excluded institutions: You cannot apply if you are studying at the University of Law, Middlesex University or the Open University. Students at BPP University can only apply for a refund of tuition fees that were paid directly to the university.

How to apply

You must submit a single application via the Foundation’s online funding system. The application period begins on 1 August 2026 and ends on 15 October 2026 at 5 pm. At the time of application, you must already be enrolled at a higher education institution or be due to commence your studies in September or October of the same year. The trustees will make their decision within four to six weeks of the application deadline.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is role-specific: you, a parent or your spouse must have five years’ professional experience in the food retail sector, in a pharmacy or in a sales role. As a result, the pool of applicants is significantly smaller than for an open scholarship. If you clearly meet this professional requirement and can demonstrate a genuine financial need, your chances are good. Demand was high in 2025, and not everyone receives the maximum amount. You should therefore apply early, as soon as the application round begins, and set out your financial situation in detail.