Hillsborough Memorial Trust - Hillsborough Memorial Trust Bursary

Benefit

You will receive a one-off payment of about 632 EUR (around 500 GBP). The exact amount depends on tax and Gift Aid regulations. This is a grant, not a loan, so you will never have to repay it and you can spend it on anything that helps you complete your studies. The money comes from the ‘Hillsborough Disaster Appeal Trust’, whose trustees have made funds available to the University of Nottingham to support local students experiencing financial hardship.

Eligibility

• University: You’re studying at the University of Nottingham in the UK.
• Study phase: You are in the final year of a full-time Bachelor’s degree programme.
• Where you live: You have lived in Nottinghamshire for at least 2 years immediately prior to the start of your degree course.
• Funding status: Your funding status is ‘Home’. This means that you are resident in the United Kingdom and are eligible for UK student finance.
• Financial need: You have already successfully submitted an application to the University’s Hardship Fund. You have also taken out the full amount of your student loan, provided you are eligible for it.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply, provided they meet the above-mentioned requirements regarding residence and financial circumstances.

As only a small number of scholarships are awarded each year, priority is given to those who are most in need. Your chances are better if you face unavoidable additional costs (for example, due to a disability or dependants), if you are a mature student (aged 21 or over at the start of your studies), if you are 60 or over and are unable to obtain a student loan, if your degree programme lasts four years or longer, or if you do not receive any other scholarship.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted online using the university’s application form. The application deadline is 28 April. A financial support committee will assess your application and inform you of the outcome within four weeks.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very narrowly defined. You must be in the final year of your Bachelor’s degree at Nottingham, have been resident in Nottinghamshire for two years, and provide evidence of financial hardship through the Hardship Fund – which means very few people are eligible. If you clearly meet these criteria and can demonstrate genuine financial hardship, your chances are good. As only a handful of scholarships are awarded each year, a well-documented application counts for more than a polished one.