Participation Bursaries.

Eligibility Criteria  

Further information 

Evidence required 

You receive a 2021/22 Opportunity Scholarship from Newcastle University 

This can be either the partial or full scholarship. 

You must provide a scanned copy of your ‘Bursary and Scholarship Entitlement for Academic Year 2021/22 letter from Newcastle University as part of your application. 

You are a care experienced student 

You must have spent at least 3 months in local authority care.  

None required as part of your application. Your status as a care leaver must have been declared as part of your UCAS application; this will be confirmed with the universities designated care leaver contact. 

You are disabled or have a long-term illness 

You must be in receipt of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) OR Medical Evidence Form.  

You must provide a copy of your PIP decision letter OR your annual updating letter if your decision letter is more than twelve months old.

OR

We also accept Medical Evidence Forms (which are supplied by Student Health and Wellbeing Service and completed by a GP. If a student has a disability or long-term illness and wants to access support, then they can contact Student Health and Wellbeing Service here.

You are a young carer or a parent? 

You must be looking after a relative or friend who has a long-term illness or disability or misuses substances. 

You must provide a document (on headed paper) confirming your status as a carer which can be one of the following: 

• Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Carer’s Allowance statement/letter 
• Carer’s support group 
• Social Services/Local Authority 
• Your relative’s NHS or Private Support Worker 
• A letter from your GP 

You are an estranged student 

You would be eligible if you are a young person who is living independently of your parents/guardians and has no communicative relationship with either of your biological parents/legal guardians and you do not expect this situation to be reconciled. 

You must provide a document (on headed paper) confirming your status as an estranged student which can be one of the following: 

• Estranged student support group/network, such as StandAlone or the Unite Foundation 
• Social Services/Local Authority 
• A letter from your GP 
• A statement from your school/college 

You are a mature student 

You would be eligible if you are a mature student who is starting their first undergraduate degree. This will mean?students who are over 21 years of age at the beginning of their?undergraduate studies 

You must provide ID, confirming your date of birth, through one of the following -  

• Passport  
• Driving license  
• Birth Certificate 
   

You would also need to provide evidence of your registration at the university. A letter from your department stating when you started your course will suffice, provided you were over 21 years of age when starting your degree. 

You are a Black, Asian or Minority (BAME) Ethnic student 

You are eligible for the Participation Bursary, if you are from a BAME background. 

This criterion is fulfilled if you belong to one of following ethic groups 

• Black or Black British – Caribbean 
• Black or Black British – African 
• Other Black background 
• Asian or Asian British – Indian 
• Asian or Asian British – Pakistani 
• Asian or Asian British – Bangladeshi 
• Chinese 
• Other Asian background 
• Mixed White and Black Caribbean 
• Mixed White and Black African 
• Mixed White and Asian 
• Other Mixed background 
• Arab 
• Other Ethnic background 

State your ethnicity. We ask everyone applying to state this. 

Gypsy, Roma or Traveller 

You are eligible for the Participation Bursary if you are from a Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community.  

You must provide a document (on headed paper) confirming your status as a member of the Gypsy, Roma or Traveller community by your school or college that you have attended. 

Refugees 

You are eligible for the Participation Bursary if you have refugee status. 

You have been given permission to stay in the UK, and granted official ‘refugee status’. You should have a letter?from?UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) to confirm this. Please provide this as evidence. 

Military Families 

You are eligible for the Participation Bursary if either/both of your parents/carers are serving or have served?in the armed forces at key educational times. You are also eligible if?you have served in the armed forces. 

The British Armed Forces consist of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, British Army , Royal Air Force, Regular Reserves, Volunteer Reserves, and Sponsored Reserves 

You must provide a document (on headed paper) from your school or college confirming which armed forces your parent(s) or you have served in. 

Home Postcode  

To be eligible you must live in a neighbourhood that has a low progression rate to higher education and has a high level of financial, social or economic deprivation. 

Proof of address –  

• Student loan letter of offer from Student Loan Company 
• Phone bill  
• Bank statement  

We will check your home postcode to determine eligibility using POLAR and IMD data.  We ask everyone applying to state their home postcode. 

You are Commuter/Live at Home Student 

You are eligible for the Participation Bursary if you live alone or cohabit with non-students (eg – parents, family, legal guardians etc) and/or the time taken to travel to campus greater than a 30-minute walk. 

Proof of address:

• Student loan letter of offer from Student Loan Company 
• Phone bill  
• Bank statement  
• Confirmation of home address of your parent/guardian 
• Letter of confirmation of your term address from the university