We believe that every student deserves the chance to fulfil their potential, regardless of their financial status or personal circumstances.

Our students possess the skills and ambition to achieve incredible things, but some face barriers to realising their true promise.

That’s why we are working with supporters to deliver an expanded range of Studentship Grants – to help remove barriers, increase access to education and transform the experiences of those who need a helping hand.

The need for support

BU sets aside significant funds every year to help students most in need. During the 2021-22 academic year, our frontline teams distributed more than £380,000 in hardship funding. However, philanthropic support allows us to do more.

During the current cost of living crisis, we know our students need that support more than ever. In addition to the usual costs associated with life at university, we are now seeing an increasing number of students struggling with essential daily costs such as food, travel and energy bills. While many are supported by family and loved ones, others do not have that safety net.

Results from the most recent National Student Money Survey laid bare the extent of the concerns and anxieties among students in the UK:

  • 82% worry about making ends meet
  • Four in five have considered dropping out of their studies, including 52% who cited money concerns as the reason
  • 31% said financial worries had caused their grades to suffer
  • 59% said these concerns had negatively impacted their mental health.

How you can help

With your help, we can bridge the gap and allow these students to participate fully in university life and learning and propel them on to a successful future. All donations to the BU Studentship Grant scheme will go directly towards supporting BU students. If you can, we would be incredibly grateful if you would consider supporting in any of the following ways:

  • Donating to support students facing hardship by making a contribution of any amount to our Financial Support Fund
  • Establishing a new named studentship, with a minimum commitment of £10,000 per undergraduate student (to be spread equally over the three or four-year course), or £10,000 for Master’s students over two years (£5,000 for one student each year)
  • Creating a new named fund for students with a donation(s) which could benefit multiple recipients (i.e. for work placement opportunities). Minimum commitment of £10,000 over four years (£2,500 per year).

Find out how existing partnerships are already supporting students, or to find out more about BU Studentship Grants, please contact Jonathan Goode, Head of Fundraising & Alumni Relations, at [email protected].