Scholarships, bursaries and referral awards

E17 Degree

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With the E17 Degree, you get exclusive support to make studying at the University of Portsmouth London more accessible and affordable.

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Sanctuary Scholarship

If you're seeking asylum and studying for an undergraduate (Bachelor's) degree, you could get a Sanctuary Scholarship to cover all of your undergraduate tuition fees.

Eligibility

To be considered for the Sanctuary Scholarship, you must be living in the UK and at least one of the following must apply:

• You have submitted an application to the UK Home Office for asylum or humanitarian protection
• You have been granted Discretionary or Limited Leave to Remain or some other form of temporary status as a result of an asylum application and are not eligible for funding from Student Finance England
• You are the spouse/civil partner or dependant of someone who has submitted an application to the UK Home Office for asylum or humanitarian protection
• You are the spouse/civil partner or dependant of someone who has been granted Discretionary or Limited Leave to Remain or some other form of temporary status as a result of an asylum application and are not eligible for funding from Student Finance England

Spouses/civil partners must have been your spouse/civil partner on the date they made an asylum application. If you're a dependant of someone, you must have been aged under 18 on the date they made an asylum application.

You must also:

• Have a conditional or unconditional offer from the University of Portsmouth for entry in September 2026 onto an undergraduate degree course (excluding NHS funded and ICP courses)
• Be attending a school, college, community or voluntary group, which can provide a reference in support of your application
• Not need support for accommodation and living expenses and live within a suitable distance to easily commute to the University
• Be unable to access UK Government student financial support because of your immigration status
• Be able to provide evidence that the UK Home Office is considering your (or your spouse/civil partner/parent/carer's) asylum application
• Be willing to act as a champion for the University to encourage future students to progress to higher education

See terms and conditions for full eligibility criteria.

Applying for the Sanctuary Scholarship

To apply, you must hold a conditional or unconditional offer to study an undergraduate degree starting in September 2026.

Details on how to apply for courses are on all course pages.

You'll need to complete a brief application to demonstrate how studying at the University of Portsmouth and being awarded this scholarship will prepare you for your future.

Asking for an application form

Once you hold an offer to study with us, email sanctuary@port.ac.uk to ask for a Sanctuary Scholarship application form.

Sending your application form

When you send your completed application form, you'll also need to include:

• a copy of your University of Portsmouth offer letter
• the name and contact details of a referee from someone at your school, college, community or voluntary group
• evidence of your current immigration status

Deadline for applications

The deadline for 2026 Sanctuary Scholarship applications is 5pm on 30 April 2026

We'll let you know if your application is successful by the end of June 2026

If your circumstances change

You must let us know if you (or your parents or spouse/civil partner) are granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK as a result of an asylum application.

If this happens, your scholarship will end at the start of the next academic year. You'll then be classed as a home (UK) student and be eligible for UK Government financial support such as a student loan.

International Scholarships

You can find the full list of scholarships available on our international scholarships page

Find out more

You’ll get this bursary of £500 a year if you’re, a full-time undergraduate student from England, being charged full fees of £9,250, and your household income is £25,000 a year or less.

You can’t get this bursary if a sponsor (such as an employer or NHS organisation) is paying all or some of your tuition fees.

No need to apply

You don’t need to apply for this bursary. We’ll check if you’re eligible for it once you’ve applied to Student Finance England for income-based support and it has verified your household income.

On your Student Finance England application, you just need to make sure:

• you’ve said you'll be studying at the University of Portsmouth
• you (and your parents or partner) have given your consent to share your information with the University

If eligible, you’ll receive your bursary directly into your bank account in 3 instalments in December, February and May. If you’re not in attendance at the University at a certain date before the bursary is due to be paid, you won’t be eligible for that instalment. 

You could get this £1,700 bursary if you're a full-time undergraduate or taught postgraduate UK student and one of the following applies:

• You've spent at least 13 weeks in care, some of which was during your teens, and you're leaving the care system in the 12 months before you start university
• You're a 'former relevant child pursuing education' – this usually means you've spent at least 13 weeks in care, some of which was during your teens, but may depend on your local authority

This bursary isn't based on your income. Recipients can also receive the University Bursary.

How to apply

If you're unsure of your eligibility, we can check for you – contact us by email at careleavers@port.ac.uk or phone us on 023 9284 3044.

If you're eligible, you may also be entitled to additional help and support for care leavers.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this bursary alongside the Stand Alone Bursary or Young Carers Bursary.

You could get this bursary of £1,000 a year if you're a full-time undergraduate UK student aged under 25 and estranged from your parents. It isn't based on your income. Recipients can also receive the University Bursary.

How to apply

Contact our Student Finance Centre to find out if you’re eligible for this bursary. If you're eligible, we'll tell you how to apply.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this bursary alongside the Care Leavers Bursary or the Young Carers Bursary.

You could get this bursary of £500 a year if all the following apply:

• you’re a full-time undergraduate UK student aged under 25
• you have caring responsibilities for a parent or family member (but not a dependent child)
• your family income is less than £25,000 a year

Recipients can also receive the University Bursary.

How to apply for the Young Carers Bursary

Contact our Student Finance Centre to apply for this bursary.

Restrictions

You won't be able to get this bursary alongside the Care Leavers Bursary or the Stand Alone Bursary.

Postgrad Solutions are currently offering five bursaries towards postgrad study for those starting in September 2026/January 2027, worth £2,000 each.

Students from all courses and subject areas are invited to apply, regardless of your chosen study mode or whether you're in receipt of wider funding. 

For the majority of cases, payment will be made direct to your institution and discounted from your tuition fees. In some circumstances payment can be put towards student living costs and accommodation. You'll need to have accepted your offer of study at your chosen institution to be considered. 

Find out more and apply

Rewards are available if you are a current student or alumni, you refer someone to study with us, and they go on to join us. You can earn £400 if you refer an international student to the University and their application results in a registration.

To be eligible for the award:

• The person you are referring must be considered an international fee-paying student (please note, this does not include students from the EU).
• The person you are referring must select ‘International Alumni Referral Award (IARA)’ as part of their application in the 'Have you applied via an Agency/Partner?' section.
• You as the referrer must complete an IARA/EURA form within two weeks of the students’ application to the University.

Rewards are available if you are a current student or alumni, you refer someone to study with us, and they go on to join us. You can earn £200 if you refer an EU student to the University and their application results in a registration.

To be eligible for the award:

• The person you are referring must be considered an EU fee-paying student.
• They must select “EU Referral Award (EURA)” as part of their application in the 'Have you applied via an Agency/Partner?' section.
• You as the referrer, must complete an IARA/EURA form within two weeks of the student’s application to the University.

The person you refer will need to be a direct applicant to us, as UCAS applicants and applicants who are referred by education agents are not eligible.

For courses starting in September, award claims will be verified from November. For January starters, award claims will be verified from March. For May starters, award claims will be verified from June.

• The award is for new students only applying for a  full-time, University of Portsmouth course based at the Portsmouth or London campuses. It cannot be claimed for students who have previously studied at the University of Portsmouth, International College Portsmouth, or London Pathway College, or on any of its franchised or distance learning courses overseas, or at an institution that has an articulation agreement with the University of Portsmouth. 
• Students must be registered on a programme lasting at least one academic year and be shown to be engaging well with their course, and be up-to-date with their tuition payments.
• The referred student must register on a programme of study at the University of Portsmouth within one year from the date the referral form is submitted to receive the award.
• You can only claim the award for direct University of Portsmouth applicants. UCAS applicants or applicants who have been referred by an education agent or agency are not eligible.
• International and EU fee paying status is dictated by the fee category of the applicant (applicants classified as UK Home students or exchange students are not eligible).
• You as the referrer, must submit an IARA/EURA form and complete the further instructions for payment to be made after November, March or June. Your claim must be made within two weeks of the application from the referred student.
• The individual you are referring will need to select and complete the IARA/EURA option when making their application. 
• There is no limit to the amount of applicants you can claim for.
• Only one referral award can be given per registration. If an application is referred by more than one student/alumni the first referral received will be the one that is rewarded.
• Referrals can be made by University of Portsmouth alumni who have successfully graduated, or any current student (UK, EU, and international) considered to be in ‘good standing’ i.e. not suspended, withdrawn or debtor.
• University of Portsmouth staff (including staff who are alumni) are not eligible under the scheme.

If you have any questions about The Referral Award Scheme, please contact: agentcommission@port.ac.uk