Financial support available from UCA

Students at computer, Architecture studios, UCA Canterbury

To help you with the cost of living during your studies, UCA has a range of scholarships and bursaries designed to support our students.

Unlike Government loans, these are not something you will have to repay at a later date.

The NSP scholarships, UCA bursaries and the Internal Progression Bursary are only available to students starting their first BA (Hons) degree course or two year foundation degree in September 2013.

There are also Creative Scholarships for both new and continuing undergraduate degree students. Please see individual scholarships for the eligibility required to apply for these.

NSP 2013/14

For students starting in 2013/14 there will be 306 scholarships available which will be allocated on the basis of financial hardship for those students with a household income less than £25,000. The scholarships do not have to be paid back and are each £3,000 in total comprising: 

  • £1,000 cash bursary (non-repayable, paid in instalments)
  • £2,000 towards institutional services, such as accommodation*

* Please note students living in University accommodation will automatically have their £2,000 institutional services element allocated to their rent account. 

The institutional services aspects of these bursaries are particularly useful as they cover a range different UCA services including:

  • University accommodation
  • Support with field trips costs
  • laptop purchase scheme
  • Catering vouchers
  • Print credit vouchers.

Receiving a National Scholarship Programme (NSP) bursary means that you won't need to spend as much as other students on these services, and may be able to allocate part of your student loan, or any income, to other things.

You must fulfil both the eligibility and selection criteria laid out below in order to receive one of these scholarships.

NSP eligibility criteria

  • Available to English domiciled, new full-time undergraduate students starting their studies in 2013-14
  • Declared annual household income of £25,000 or less
  • Receiving the full allocation of government support for university study for which you are eligible, i.e. the tuition fee loan and maintenance loan or grant for living costs, via Student Finance England

NSP selection criteria

Priority will be given to:

1. People who have been in care and who fulfil the eligibility criteria above. You will be required to confirm your care leaver status during the NSP application process.

2. People with the lowest annual household incomes under £25,000. We receive notification of your household income from the Student Loans Company, who take their data from the information you submit to Student Finance England when you apply for your tuition fee loan and maintenance loan or grant for living costs.

How to apply

You should apply directly to UCA for the NSP awards. If you are holding a firm offer at UCA (conditional or unconditional) you can download the application form here. The deadline for applications is 30 September 2013. When assessing your application we will use the data on household income you supplied to the Student Loans Company. You must consent to share your financial data when you apply for your student loan or we will not be able to consider you for any awards.

Other important information

  • The maximum number of NSP scholarships awarded at UCA will be 306.
  • This NSP award is available for 2013-14 only - you will not receive the NSP award during every year of study.
  • If you receive an NSP award you may also receive a UCA Bursary on top of this. If you are progressing internally from an FE to a BA course you may also receive an Internal Progression Bursary Loyalty Top-up. (See the eligibility criteria for these awards to find out more).

Contact us

If you have any questions about our bursaries please contact the Scholarships and Bursaries Officer:

T: +44 (0)1252 892945
E: bursaries@ucreative.ac.uk