The Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust

Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust undergraduate bursary

You will receive £500 to £3,000 per year (about 580 to 3,450 EUR) for your Bachelor’s degree. The funding will continue for the entire duration of your studies, and you do not need to submit a new application every year. The exact amount depends on your household income, your overall financial situation and the level of funding available this year. You can use the funding towards tuition and examination fees, accommodation, living costs, travel expenses or study materials. The grant is paid to your university, which will pass it on to you. It is provided by the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust, a charitable organisation that supports students in the food retail, pharmaceutical and travel sectors.

Who can apply

• Degree: You are undertaking a full-time degree programme as part of your first Bachelor’s degree at a recognised British university or higher education institution. Distance-learning programmes are not eligible for funding.
• Where you live: You live in the UK.
• Trade connection: You, a parent or your spouse work in one of the following sectors: the food retail sector (supermarkets, wholesalers, food manufacturers, suppliers, convenience stores or independent food retailers, but not in an office or administrative capacity); in a pharmacy, or as a qualified pharmacist or pharmacy assistant; or as a sales representative (a B2B sales representative who has been travelling within the UK).
• Length of employment: This person is currently carrying out this role and has done so in the UK without interruption for at least 5 years.
• Financial need: You need support to make your studies more affordable. Priority is given to households with an annual income of less than £50,000, particularly those with an income of less than £30,000. Households with an annual income of more than £90,000 are not eligible.
• Field of study: All compartments are open.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they live in the UK and are studying at a UK university.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online via the Trust’s funding system. The application period begins on 1 August and ends on 1 October at 5. 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 members of the Board of Trustees will make their decision within four to six weeks of the application deadline; their decision is final.

How realistic are your chances?

The sector-specific nature of the scheme significantly narrows the pool of applicants: only students with a close family or personal connection to the food retail, pharmacy or travel sectors are eligible, meaning the pool of applicants is far smaller than for open scholarships. However, the programme is currently oversubscribed, and not everyone who meets the criteria will receive a scholarship; priority is given to households with the lowest incomes. If your family clearly belongs to one of the eligible sectors and you can demonstrate a genuine financial need, your chances are good, particularly if your household income is below £30,000.