University of Bristol BursariesHow do I know if I am eligible for the University of Bristol bursary?Full-time Home UK students on undergraduate programmes, as well as on the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), who expect to receive either the full or partial maintenance grant or special support grant from their Local Authority will be eligible for the University of Bristol's bursary.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How much is it worth?Those students in receipt of the full maintenance grant or special support grant will be entitled to receive the full University of Bristol bursary worth £1,135. This comprises of a cash bursary worth £1,025 per year (students should refer to their programme/faculty handbook for further details) plus an optional free sports pass, notionally worth £110 per year.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Those students in receipt of a partial maintenance grant or special support grant will be entitled to receive the partial University of Bristol bursary worth £725. This comprises of a cash bursary worth £615 per year (students should refer to their programme/faculty handbook for further details) plus an optional free sports pass, notionally worth £110 per year.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³I have also heard about a local bursary, what is this?Top-up bursaries of £1,025 a year are available to local students (currently identified as those students resident in the BA or BS postal code areas at the time of UCAS application). This bursary is paid
in addition to the main University of Bristol bursary described previously.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Is there a deadline date to claim my 2007/08 University of Bristol Bursary?Yes. Students must have claimed their University of Bristol bursary and their Local bursary (if applicable) by 20 June 2008. Only very exceptional cases may be processed after this date.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Are there any other qualifying criteria for the local bursary?As with the main University of Bristol bursary, the local bursary is available to full-time, home UK students on undergraduate programmes who expect to receive either the full or partial maintenance grant or special support grant from their Local Authority.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³However, the local bursary is not available to students on the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) course.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Do I need to complete a separate application form to apply for the bursary?No. The Local Authority assesses your entitlement to a maintenance or special support grant based on your household income, and this is paid to you via the Student Loans Company (SLC). Provided you have given the SLC your consent to share your household income details, the SLC will confirm your household income electronically to the University of Bristol.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Do I need to give my consent to share this information?Yes. If you do not provide your consent to share this information to the SLC, the University of Bristol will not know your household income. As a result, we will not be able to determine whether you are entitled to a maintenance or special support grant and will not therefore be able to award you a bursary.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How do I give my consent to share this information?Most students will already have applied for statutory support from their Local Authority via the PN1 application form (for new students), or the PR1 application form (for returning students). Section 13 of these forms, 'bursary consent statements', asked the student
and their parent(s)/sponsor(s) to sign if they wished to give their consent to share details of their household income with the institution.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³If you
and your parent(s)/sponsor(s) have
all signed this section, then you have given your consent to share and the University of Bristol will receive this information electronically from the SLC.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³I didn't sign section 13 of the form and neither did my parents, is it too late to give consent now?No, it isn't too late, but call the SLC as soon as possible. You and your parent(s) can contact the SLC at any time during the year to give consent.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³- English students should call: 0845 607 7577
- Welsh students should call: 0845 602 8845
- Northern Irish students should call: 0845 600 0662
- Scottish students call SAAS on: 0845 111 1711
To confirm your identity, you and your parent(s) will need to have your Automated Response Numbers (ART ID) to hand. You will also need to know your secret answers that will have been given to you and your parent(s) by the SLC. You and your family members will each have your own ART ID and secret answer.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What will happen once the University of Bristol receives details of my entitlement to a maintenance grant or special support grant from the SLC?You will be written to as soon as possible in the first few weeks of term to confirm your bursary award. If you have applied late for statutory support or have given your consent to share your information late, the notification of your award will be delayed.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How will the bursary be paid?The bursary will be paid directly into your bank account via a Bank Automated Credit (BACS) payment.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How do I give the University of Bristol my bank details?You need to visit the University of Bristol's secure
Student Info web page and supply accurate bank account and sort code details. This will enable the University of Bristol to pay the bursary into your nominated account.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³When will I receive payment of my University of Bristol bursary?The total award will be paid in three instalments in December, March and May as long as you are still registered on your course at the time of payment.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³If you also qualify for the £1,025 local bursary, this will also be split into three instalments and paid at the same time as your other bursary payments.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What is the optional sports pass?If you are in receipt of any amount of maintenance or special support grant, you are entitled to an optional sports pass, notionally valued at £110.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How do I claim it?You apply for your sports pass at the same time as you apply for your undergraduate student card.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³You will receive this information in your pre-arrival pack. When you complete the form, you need to tick the box that indicates that you are eligible for a maintenance grant, or special support grant.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What if I have not yet received my student support notification?If you are expecting to receive a maintenance grant, or special support grant, but have not yet received your student support notification, you can still tick this box.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What if I do not want to receive the Sports Pass? Will I get the money instead?If you do not wish to receive the Sports Pass, but you are in receipt of a maintenance or special support grant, you will not get an extra £110. The Sports Pass is optional; if you do not want it, you do not have to have it. You will still receive the rest of your bursary package.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What if my student support notification is late, and I tick that I expect to receive a maintenance grant/special support grant, apply for my free Sports Pass, but then find out I am not eligible later on in the year?If you find out you are not eligible for a free Sports Pass, but have received one anyway, you will be given the opportunity to pay for your pass or you will have your pass cancelled.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³If I qualify for a maintenance grant or special support grant and I only give my consent to share part-way through the academic year, will this affect payment of my University of Bristol bursary?The University of Bristol bursary will still be paid in full, but later than the majority of students who gave their consent to share at the outset.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³I have not yet applied for statutory support from my Local Authority. How can I find out if I might qualify for a maintenance grant or special support grant and is it too late to apply?No, it is not too late – but apply now!
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³You can actually apply for statutory support up to nine months after the start of your academic year. However, each year you should apply as early as possible to ensure that your funding is place for the start of the academic year.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³You should contact your Local Authority to establish whether you might be eligible for the maintenance grant or special support grant. You can find the contact details of your Local Authority at the
Student Support Direct website, where you can also submit an on-line application.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³The University’s
help from the UK government for UK students web page provides a guide to the household income threshold levels which determine Government grants and other support.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Will a late application to my local authority for statutory support affect my entitlement for a bursary from the University of Bristol?No, provided you are confirmed as eligible for a bursary before the deadline date of 20 June 2008.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³As long as you qualify for a maintenance or special support grant and give your consent for the SLC to share this information, the University of Bristol will still pay you a bursary before 20 June 2008. However, your payments will be delayed, so apply as soon as you can.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³I started my course in 2006 as a 'new system' student, but I failed my first year and I am having to repeat the year again. Am I still eligible for the University of Bristol Bursary?Provided your Local Authority have agreed to continue to pay you either a maintenance or special support grant on your repeat year, then you will still be entitled to receive the main University of Bristol bursary (and the local postcode bursary – if applicable).
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³It is at the discretion of the LA as to whether or not they will pay a maintenance or special support grant to a student who is repeating a year. The LA will take account of any extenuating circumstances when making their decision.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Students who are on a repeat year will need to provide paper proof to the Student Funding Office that their LA have agreed to pay them a grant on their repeat year.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Great Western ScholarshipsI was nominated for a Great Western Scholarship – what happens now?If you have met or exceeded your academic offer, you will receive a letter confirming your Great Western Scholarship.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What if I did not meet my academic offer?Unfortunately your Great Western Scholarship offer will be withdrawn. You will need to contact Admissions on 0117 331 7185 to confirm whether or not you still have a place at the University of Bristol.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How much is my Great Western Scholarship worth?If you are in receipt of the maintenance or special support grant, your Great Western Scholarship will be worth £2,560 per annum. If you are not in receipt of either one of these grants, your scholarship will be worth £515 per annum.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How will you know that I am entitled to a maintenance or special support grant?Your Local Authority (LA) assesses your entitlement to a maintenance or special support grant. Provided you (and your parent(s)/sponsor(s)) have given your consent to share your household income details, then this information will be released electronically to the University of Bristol via the Student Loans Company (see previous sections for more information on giving your consent to share). We will be able to determine your entitlement to a maintenance or special support grant from your household income.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³When will I receive my Great Western Scholarship?If you are in receipt of the Great Western Scholarship of £2,560, you will receive payment in three instalments in December, March and May.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³If you are in receipt of the Great Western Scholarship of £515, you will receive payment in one instalment in December.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How will I receive payment?The scholarship will be paid directly into your bank account via a Bank Automated Credit (BACS) payment.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³How do I give the University of Bristol my bank details?You need to visit the University of Bristol's secure
Student Info web page and supply accurate bank account and sort code details. This will enable the University of Bristol to pay the Great Western Scholarship into your nominated account.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Further questionsI haven't yet organised a bank account. Which one do you recommend?Choose a bank and set up an account before you start your course. The SLC will need you to provide them with bank account details before the start of term, in order to pay you your grant and loan entitlements at the start of the first term.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³There are numerous banks to choose from and each one has different facilities to offer, in terms of the free overdraft facilities they provide, the interest rates they charge, the introductory benefits which they provide and so on. You will need to 'shop around' to find the bank that gives you the best deal.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Once you have chosen your preferred bank and set up your account details, make sure you update your details at
Student Info.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³What happens if I supply you with incorrect bank details?Please ensure you supply an accurate bank account number and sort code in the first instance. If you supply incorrect bank details or change banks without updating Student Info, your bursary payment will fail.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³If the payment fails, we will write to you as soon as possible to confirm the reason why. If you supply incorrect bank details, we may have to pay the first bursary instalment by cheque instead of by BACS, until we receive your correct bank details.
ÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³Further Questions?If you have any further questions at all about your support from the Government or from the University, please do not hesitate to contact the
Student Funding OfficeÖYÜYfhIbbs.eduglobal.comG[CQÛ³