Charities & Trusts - Student Financial Support

Search and apply for funding

There are thousands of external bodies and educational trusts with funds available for students.

Eligibility, the application process and the value of awards varies enormously between organisations.

Awards tend to be small. They are unlikely to exceed £1,000, so it is not likely that you will obtain funding to cover all of your costs from one organisation. You can, however, build up a portfolio of awards from a number of organisations. Once you have completed one application for funding, you can often easily amend and adapt it to apply for funding from other organisations.

Searching for funding

The most difficult part of applying for charitable funds is locating organisations that you are eligible to apply to. This can be a time-consuming task, and you should be prepared to spend at least a few hours on it.

The Internet

You could start by carrying out some searches in search engines. This will not produce a definitive list of organisations, so take a look at sites which include funding databases and lists, such as:

Funding publications

Many organisations may not have an online presence. To find out about these, look at written funding directories such as the Grants Register, the Directory of Grant Making Trusts and the Educational Grants Directory, which are updated annually. Most local libraries have copies of such publications.

Local trusts

Find out whether you could be eligible to apply to local charities or trusts. Use the local library to see if they have any local funding directories. Narrow your search to look at the area where you live, where you are study, or a particular area that you have an association with.

Newcastle City Library has some funding directories available in the reference section, available on Level 1, Directories and Yearbooks section:

The Guide to Grants for Individuals in Need (361.71)
The Guide to the Major Trusts Volumes 1&2 (361.7)
Charity Choice (361.7)

The Community Foundation website is also useful.

Departmental advice

Talk to your School Administrator/tutor/supervisor about:

how other students have funded themselves
subject specific bodies and professional organisations that the School has an affiliation with

Applying for funding

Check that you meet the eligibility criteria of organisations that you intend to apply to. Read through lists of exclusions.

Approach any potential organisations to check if you meet the criteria, and to request the most up to date applications forms, specific guidance and information about closing dates.

Top tips

answer all the questions fully
complete the form properly
do not include additional sheets or documents unless specified
be mindful of your audience and avoid jargon
ensure you sign and date the form
meet the deadlines
keep a copy of your application

Personal statement

Your personal statement should:

outline why the charity should invest in you
provide some information about the nature of your studies
describe the benefit this will have for your future career

If you have made applications to other funding organisations, it would also be useful to outline this in your application.

Financial statement

Show that you have thought about how you intend to fund your studies. What funding do you have in place? How do you intend to meet any shortfall you have? How much do you think you need in order to manage?

List your income and expenditure, and indicate the steps you will take to show how you will live frugally and how you will make your available funds stretch.

References

Most organisations will want references. Usually, these will need to be from academics.

Find out more

Funding for:

UK students

Funding is available for many different categories of UK students.

What follows is not a complete list. Charitable and trust funding may be available from other organisations. Some organisations also offer subject specific funding.

General funding

For all students in higher education

The Chizel Educational Trust gives small grants to individuals in the UK under the age of 25 to assist in their education. Grants are intended help with the costs of education or training, such as the cost of uniforms, books, equipment.

The Trustees of the French Huguenot Church of London Charitable Trust offers an annual scholarship to a student working for a higher degree on a Huguenot subject, ie the study of any activity of the French, the Dutch, the Flemish or the Walloon Protestants from the 16th century to the present, in any geographical area. 'Activity' will be interpreted in the widest sense.

The Gilchrist Educational Trust provides awards to students who have made proper provision to fund a degree or higher education course but find themselves facing unexpected financial difficulties which may prevent completion of it; also from students who are required, as part of their course, to spend a short period studying abroad.

The Sidney Perry Foundation primarily helps first-degree students, but also has some funding available for postgraduates.

For those in need

The Al-mizan Charitable Trust provides small grants and interest-free loans to those most in need.

The Cross Trust gives grants to young Scots who are of merit and in financial need.

Local students

The Community Foundation supports causes in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, and across North East England. It has funds that are particularly targeted towards young people leaving care, those in education, and those developing talents in the arts, sports and science.

The County Durham Community Foundation offers small grants to former pupils of selected schools in Durham.

The Greggs Foundation Hardship Fund gives priority to children and families. It offers grants for essential items such as washing machines, fridges, furniture, and baby equipment. They accept applications from recognised social organisations such as charities, housing associations and social services acting on behalf of a family or individual in need.

The Sunderland Guild of Help accept applications from social workers or other professionals who are familiar with the charity on behalf of residents of Sunderland.

The Tees Valley Community Foundation is an emergency grant fund to assist individuals living in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Redcar & Cleveland who are faced with an emergency or crisis.

The Westoe Educational Charity offers help to people under 25 years old who are resident in the Metropolitan Borough Council of South Tyneside (or have a parent resident) and are in financial need.

The St Nicholas’ Educational Trust promotes education for young people, providing financial assistance to people under the age of 25 and who have been resident in Newcastle for five years.

Overseas trips

The British Institute or Persian Studies Travel and Research Bursaries offers a limited number of bursaries to encourage visits to Iran and the wider Persian world.

Daiwa Foundation Small Grants offer a unique opportunity to promote and support interaction between the UK and Japan.

The Gilchrist Educational Trust invites applications from students who have made proper provision to fund a degree or higher education course but find themselves facing unexpected financial difficulties which may prevent completion. They also help students who are required, as part of their course, to spend a short period studying abroad.

Hazel's Footprints Trust helps young people who want to take part in voluntary work abroad but are struggling to cover the whole cost.

The Peter Kirk European Travel Scholarships are awarded to promote understanding of Europe amongst young Britons, and of Britain amongst young people from other European countries

The Reg Gilbert International Youth Friendship Trust (GIFT) helps UK residents aged 16 to 24 to visit a developing country on a trip lasting at least six weeks.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust funds research into practical topics overseas that will make a real difference to your community or profession when you return home.

Help with energy bills

If you are struggling to pay your water, gas or electricity bills, contact your provider to discuss the options available to you and whether you are able to negotiate a more realistic payment plan. If you have accrued large debts, you may find it useful to speak to an adviser from the Student Advice Centre, as they can help with debt management.

You may also be able to get help from energy providers to meet the cost of your bills:

British Gas Energy Trust can provide people in need, hardship or other distress with a grant from the Trust
EDF Energy Trust can provide grants to help toward gas and electricity arrears and other essential domestic bills, or the purchase of essential household items
E.ON Energy Fund helps existing or previous customers to pay bill arrears and support in repairing or maintaining household equipment
npower Energy Fund helps customers who are struggling to pay their bills
Scottish Power Energy People Trust is an independent charity to help people out of fuel poverty

Asylum seekers

The Al-mizan Charitable Trust provides small grants and interest-free loans to those most in need

The Ruth Hayman Trust awards small grants to support the education and training of adults who have come to settle in the UK, speak English as a second or other language, and have difficulty in paying for their studies.

The Schwab & Westheimer Trust provides educational grants and scholarships to young asylum seekers and refugees where alternative sources of funding are inadequate.

Disabled students

As a disabled student, you may be able to claim for additional costs related to your study. Your funding body may provide financial assistance.

External organisations also offer a variety of grants and scholarships.

The Al-mizan Charitable Trust provides small grants and interest-free loans to those most in need.

The Student Health Association Assistance Fund provides help for disabled students who are not eligible for UK Disabled Students' Allowances funding and who are studying in the UK.

Equipment for Independent Living helps people who have disabilities aged over 16 and living in the UK and abroad. They give one-off grants towards disability equipment enabling mobility, independence and earning power.

Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities provides scholarships for students with disabilities who are studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.

The Peter Greenwood Memorial Trust offers small cash grants to deaf and hearing-impaired students to buy books and equipment to support them in their studies.

The Helena Kennedy Foundation helps to overcome social injustice by providing financial bursaries, mentoring and support to disadvantaged students.

Guide Dogs offer grants towards assistive technology equipment for use in the home to young people up to and including 18 years of age.

The Snowdon Trust offer grants for disability-related costs not covered by statutory funding and scholarships providing funding for exceptionally talented disabled people to undertake Masters' courses.

St Jude's Trust provides grants to people in need through disability or disadvantage. Apply in March/April and September/October for review in May and November

Female students

The British Foundation for Women Graduates gives annual awards for academic excellence to women in their third year of doctoral studies.

Funds for Women Graduates provides Foundation Grants to help women graduates with their living expenses (not fees) in their final year of a PhD or DPhil, and Emergency Grants to women graduates who face an unforeseen financial crisis.

The Hilda Martindale Educational Trust makes a very limited number of awards to British women who are undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate study in a subject where women are under-represented. First-year undergraduates are not eligible.

The Medical Women's Federation offer a variety of grants and prizes throughout the year to assist qualified Doctors or women studying towards a medical degree leading to GMC registration as a doctor.

The Yorkshire Ladies' Council of Education provides small awards to help British women aged 21 and over who are not eligible for Student Finance support and need help with course fees.

Postgraduates

The British Foundation for Women Graduates gives annual awards for academic excellence to women in their third year of doctoral studies.

Funds for Women Graduates provides Foundation Grants to help women graduates with their living expenses (not fees) in their final year of a PhD or DPhil, and Emergency Grants to women graduates who face an unforeseen financial crisis.

The Hilda Martindale Educational Trust makes a very limited number of awards to British women who are undertaking undergraduate or postgraduate study in a subject where women are under-represented. First-year undergraduates are not eligible.

The Royal Geographical Society supports undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD student fieldwork projects.

The Hockerill Foundation makes individual grants mainly to those training in the United Kingdom to be teachers, with a priority to teaching Religious Education.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology offers a variety of awards for undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD students .

The Leverhulme Trust provides funding for research projects, fellowships, and studentships. It operates across all the academic disciplines. Study Abroad Studentships pay an annual maintenance allowance to study or undertake research at a centre of learning in any country except the UK or USA.

The Philharmonia MMSF Instrumental Fellowship Programme (formerly the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund) assists students with exceptional musical talent to bridge the gap between study and fully professional status.

The Monica Cole Research Grant supports undergraduate and postgraduate physical geographers in undertaking original fieldwork overseas.

Wellcome support the brightest minds in biomedical science and the humanities and social sciences.

The Engineers Trust is the charitable trust of the Worshipful Company of Engineers and gives annual awards and prizes to support and encourage excellence amongst qualified engineers and those training to be Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers and engineering Technicians.

Subject specific funding

Agriculture

The Dick Harrison Trust awards grants for fees or maintenance to people born in Scotland or the Counties of Cumbria or Northumberland, or who are (or whose parents or guardians are) resident in any of these places and who are studying livestock auctioneering and/or rural estate management.

The Royal Bath and West of England Society provides help to students from from Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire. They give priority to people who would return to the South West on completion of their studies to contribute to the local economy during their career.

The Studley College Trust provides student bursaries for study and training activities in the land-based industries.

The Tropical Agricultural Association provides funding for overseas studies on an MSc course to citizens or long-term residents of the UK who are under 30 years old. You should have a first degree in a natural resources-related discipline and a serious interest in international development.

Architecture and Town Planning

RIBA Part 1 and 2 Bursaries

The bursary scheme supports students of architecture who are on a RIBA-validated course within the UK. The bursaries support students who struggle to cover course-related and living costs.

To apply for a RIBA Part 1 bursary, you must be registered in the first year of a RIBA Part 1 course. To apply for a RIBA Part 2 bursary, you must be the process of applying for a RIBA Part 2 course beginning in September.

RIBA Student Hardship Funds

The RIBA Student Support Fund is a funding scheme for architecture students enrolled in RIBA Part 1 and 2 courses in the UK who would benefit from financial support.

RIBA administers a number of other bursary and scholarship schemes to help architecture students.

The Royal Town Planning Institute provides support to students who have a registered disability or are from a diverse under-represented group in the profession.

Art and Music

The South Square Trust helps students studying degree courses in the Fine and Applied Arts, including Fine Art, Goldsmithing, Silversmithing, Metalwork, Conservation, Music, Drama, Musical Theatre and Dance. As of May 2020 the award was removed from their website, but please keep checking.

The Alper Charitable Trust provides interest-free loans to non-postgraduate young musicians in full-time education. The trust usually gives an interest-free loan (generally £200 to £500) to help buy a musical instrument.

The Universal Music UK Sound Foundation was formerly known as the EMI Music Sound Foundation. The Foundation provides grants towards the purchase of musical instruments and/or equipment for students in full time education.

The Philharmonia MMSF Instrumental Fellowship Programme (formerly the Martin Musical Scholarship Fund) assists students with exceptional musical talent to bridge the gap between study and fully professional status.

Help Musicians UK provides support to musicians of all ages and genres.

The Talbot House Trust provide one-off grants to undergraduate students in higher education to help with fees. In exceptional circumstances, they will consider a contribution towards equipment and instruments or maintenance and living cost.

Computing

Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities provides scholarships for students with disabilities who are studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.

Engineering

The ICE Benevolent Fund helps disabled or disadvantaged students who are studying on an ICE accredited Civil Engineering degree course. You may be able to get help from your second year onwards.

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers offers support to undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD students who are members of IMechE, or who are dependants of members. Grants of up to £2,000 are available for all study and living costs except tuition fees.

The Douglas Bomford Trust provides funding for students in the field of engineering or science relating to sustainable agricultural, food and biological systems.

The Engineers Trust is the charitable trust of the Worshipful Company of Engineers and gives annual awards and prizes to support and encourage excellence amongst qualified engineers and those training to be Chartered Engineers, Incorporated Engineers and Engineering Technicians.

The Institution of Engineering and Technology offers a variety of awards for undergraduates, postgraduates, and PhD students.

The RIBA ICE McAslan Bursary supports architecture and engineering students and graduates committed to the progress of environmental and social issues.

The United Kingdom Naval Engineering Science and Technology Forum (UKNEST) offers up to 12 undergraduate scholarships to students who are interested in future employment in the Naval Defence Sector.

Geography

The Royal Geographical Society supports undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD student fieldwork projects.

The Monica Cole Research Grant supports undergraduate and postgraduate physical geographers in undertaking original fieldwork overseas.

Medical

The British Medical Association Charities offer help in times of financial need to doctors and their dependants and to medical students.

The Sir John Sumner’s Trust helps people studying nursing or medicine, including veterinary studies, who are in need and living in the UK, although there is a strong preference for the Midlands.

The Dr Robert Malcolm Trust awards grants to students who are studying for a first degree in medicine.

The Medical Women's Federation oversees a variety of grants and prizes throughout the year to assist qualified Doctors or women studying towards a medical degree leading to GMC registration as a doctor.

The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund provides assistance to medical students facing unexpected and exceptional financial hardship.

Electives

The Cross Trust helps students to participate in Elective Studies abroad. Applicants must be of Scottish birth or parentage.

The Royal Medical Benevolent Fund maintains a list of some of the organisations that offer grants and bursaries for medical students looking to do electives.

Work the world provides lots of advice about applying for funding to cover electives.

You may also be interested in funding available to help if you are undertaking a trip overseas.

Teaching

The All Saints Educational Trust makes personal grant awards to teachers, intending teachers and students in Religious Studies, Home Economics and related areas.

The Hockerill Foundation makes grants mainly to people training in the United Kingdom to be teachers, with a priority to teaching Religious Education.

International and non-UK EU students

A variety of charitable funding is available for you to apply for as a non-UK student.

The following list is not exhaustive. You may also be eligible to apply for funding available to UK students.

The Aga Khan Development Network provides scholarships for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from select developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies.

The Anglo-Jewish Association provides financial assistance to Jewish students to attend University and Higher Education throughout the country.

The Beit Trust provides a limited number of scholarships for postgraduate courses at universities in the United Kingdom or South Africa. Candidates must be domiciled in Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe, and aged under 30 (or 35 in the case of medical doctors).

The All Saints Educational Trust makes personal grant awards to teachers, intending teachers and students in Religious Studies, Home Economics and related areas.

The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation awards grants in the UK and Japan in all areas of the visual and performing arts, humanities, social sciences, science and engineering, mathematics, business studies, and education.

The Nora Henry Trust offers grants to students from any country with a preference for students from developing countries who are studying subjects which will be of use when they return to that country.

The Hockerill Foundation makes grants mainly to people training in the United Kingdom to be teachers, with a priority to teaching Religious Education.

Marshall Scholarships finance high ability young Americans to study for a degree in the UK, in any field of study.

The Sidney Perry Foundation helps first-degree students who are younger than 35 years old when the course starts.

Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities provides scholarships for students with disabilities who are studying computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical field.

The Student Health Association Assistance Fund provides help for disabled students who are not eligible for UK Disabled Students' Allowances funding but who are studying in the UK.

The Schwab and Westheimer Trust provides educational grants and scholarships to young asylum seekers and refugees where alternative sources of funding are inadequate.