Young students’ bursary and independent students’ bursary

• Young students’ bursary
• Independent students’ bursary

These bursaries top-up student loans for students from lower-income households.

Young students’ bursary

Students may be eligible for a young students’ bursary if they are from a family with an income of less than £34,000 a year and they:

•are under 25 on the first day of the first academic year of the course (for an autumn start course, this is 1 August); and
•have not supported themself financially outside of education for three years; and
•are not married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner; and
•have no dependent children.

The amount they receive depends on the student’s and their family’s income. In 2024/25, a maximum of £2,000 is paid if the student’s and their family’s combined income is under £21,000 a year.

Independent students’ bursary

Students who do not meet the young student criteria above are classed as independent students. Students classed as independent are eligible for £1,000 if their household income is below £21,000 a year.