Undergraduate bursaries

Ravensbourne has partnered with the largest, specialist higher education retailer in the UK to offer the Ravensbourne Aspire scheme.

The Ravensbourne Aspire scheme is available to new full time undergraduate students enrolling for the first time in Autumn 2024/25.

All new undergraduate students will receive:

• £100 on a Ravensbourne Aspire card
• access to a branded online shop where you can buy a laptop, cameras and specialist accessories, other technology, books and course materials 
• Ravensbourne specified Mac and PC laptops will be available on the site at good value prices. For instance, Ravensbourne Mac laptop specifications will be available at a price matching the educational discount on the Apple site before you apply the bursary to the purchase.

Recommended laptops for your course 

Students will not have to apply for the scheme, they will be emailed with details of how to activate their account within 4 weeks of enrolment.  If students already own an appropriate laptop, they can apply the Aspire scheme credit to other course equipment on the online shop such as tablets and digital equipment or design materials.

Students or parents will be able to top up the funds on the card during the year.

Visit the online shop now

Additional funding for students from low income families:

Students with a household income of £25,000 or less, as declared to Student Finance England, will receive an additional £400 on their Aspire Card within 4 weeks of enrolment. This funding will be automatically added to student’s Aspire Accounts.

Students with a household of £25,000, as declared to Student Finance England, will receive an automatic cash award of £500.

Eligibility

The Ravensbourne bursary is available to home/UK undergraduate students, who:

• have accessed the maximum support available to them from the Student Loans Company.
• have a declared household income of £25,000 or less.
• are paying tuition fees of £9,250.
• are studying an undergraduate degree course in 2024/25 academic year.

How to apply

Students do not need to apply as they will automatically be assessed for eligibility against our criteria when they apply for Student Finance with the Student Loans Company. 

When will it be paid?

Year 1 & 2 (level 4 & 5) students will receive £500 on 31 January 2025 following successful progression to Semester 2.

Year 3 (level 6) students will receive £500 cash on 30 November 2024 following confirmation of attendance. 

Please note:

• The Ravensbourne Bursary is only paid once per course level. Students repeating a year will not be eligible to receive the award again.
• Recipients of The Ravensbourne Bursary are also able to apply for other sources of bursary funding.
• Attendance and engagement on course will be taken into consideration.

The internal progression award is a one-off award of £500 paid at the start of February of the student's first year on their undergraduate course.

Eligibility

This award is available to all new undergraduate students who have progressed directly from a Foundation Diploma or Access to HE Course at Ravensbourne in the previous academic year.

How to apply

Qualifying students are not required to apply for this award. Payment will automatically be arranged following confirmation of attendance in Semester 2 at the start of February in the first year of an undergraduate course.

For more information on internal progression

This bursary provides financial support to students entering higher education direct from Local Authority Care. It is a lump sum payment payable in each academic year.

Eligibility

Students must:

• be paying home tuition fees of £9,250
• have declared care leaver/experienced status to the Student Loans Company
• have accessed the maximum support available to them from the Student Loans Company. 
• be studying an undergraduate degree course in 2024/25 academic year.

(Care leavers in receipt of a Ravensbourne Bursary can still receive the Care Leavers Bursary).

How to apply

Students should advise Student Finance England when applying for tuition fee and maintenance loans of their care leaver status.

Students with SFE Care Leaver status will automatically be eligible for this award. 

Ravensbourne has additional financial support available for our irreconcilably estranged students in the form of a lump sum payment, payable in each academic year.

Eligibility

Home students in receipt of Student Finance who are irreconcilably estranged from their parents.

(Estranged students in receipt of a Ravensbourne Bursary can still receive estranged student support).

How to apply

Students should apply for Estranged Independent status when applying  for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England (SFE). 

Students with approved SFE estranged status will automatically be eligible for this award. 

If you are a carer, there is likely to be a significant impact on your wellbeing as a result of your caring role. Ravensbourne are able to offer you some additional financial support. 

Eligibility 

Home undergraduates who can provide evidence of one of the following categories:

• Working with a recognised Young Carer’s Organisation in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland, or
• Previously in receipt of Carer’s Benefits, or
• Notification letter from family GP or Social Worker.

How to apply

Students should contact Student Services providing evidence listed above. Applications will need to be made for each year of study.

If your household income is £25,000 or less, you may be eligible to apply for the Ravensbourne Graduation Bursary. This award will help with the cost of your tickets, gown hire and photographs to record the day. In some circumstances, funding towards travel expenses is also awarded.

Please complete the online application form and supply

• A copy of your last 3 bank statements
• Your student finance statement for 2023/24

Please email your evidence to Student Services.

Financial support towards accommodation costs based on individual needs’ assessment.

Eligibility

• Home students in crisis and/or who are homeless
• have accessed the maximum support available to them from the Student Loans Company
• are paying tuition fees of £9,250.
• And meet one or more of the following criteria:
  • have a household income of £25,000 or less, as declared to SFE
  • a care-leaver
  • irreconcilably estranged from family
  • a mature student
  • disabled
  • BAME background
  • a carer
  • have a parent in the Armed Forces
  • live in a low University participation area.

How to apply

Students should contact the Student Services Team directly if they find themselves homeless or in crisis.

The student opportunity fund provides additional support to home undergraduate students who are facing unforeseen financial difficulties.  Awards are made based on individual need assessment.

Eligibility

Student opportunity funding is available to undergraduate students, who:

• are domiciled in England
• have accessed the maximum support available to them from the Student Loans Company
• are paying tuition fees of £9,250.
• have a household income of £25,000 or less, as declared to SFE and/or are:
• a care-leaver
• irreconcilably estranged from family
• a mature student
• disabled
• BAME background
• a carer
• have a parent in the Armed Forces
• live in a low University participation area.

How to apply

Students are asked to complete the on-line application form and supply copies of the following evidence:

• Student finance statement
• Bank statements for past 3 months
• Tenancy agreement (if applicable)
• Weekly/monthly payslip (if applicable)
• Completed student budget planner

All evidence should be sent to [email protected]

Depending on individual circumstances, students may also be required to meet with the Financial Support Coordinator to discuss additional forms of support and money management.

Ravensbourne is committed to providing assistance to our students who find themselves in financial hardship. The student services support award is given to students who face an unexpected crisis that may jeopardise their ability to continue with study.

Eligibility

• Undergraduate students not eligible for student opportunity funding

Students are asked to complete the on-line application form and supply copies of the following evidence:

• Student finance statement (if applicable)
• Bank statements for past 3 months
• Weekly/monthly payslip (if applicable)
• Tenancy agreement (if applicable)
• Completed student budget planner

All evidence should be sent to [email protected]

Depending on individual circumstances, students may also be required to meet with the Financial Support Coordinator to discuss additional forms of support and money management.

This bursary is aimed at mature learners joining an undergraduate degree course at Ravensbourne in September 2024/25. Priority will be made to mature learners joining direct from completing an Access to HE course in 23/24

Eligible students will receive funding towards the costs of sustenance, travel and course equipment.  If requested, funding can be added to the student’s Aspire account to help towards the cost of a laptop.

Eligibility

Students over the age of 21 on the first day of course, and have a household income of £25,000 or under.

How to apply

Students will need to complete the on-line application form and supply the following supporting evidence:

• Student Finance Statement (if applicable)
• If not in receipt of Student Finance, please provide P60 for 2022/23 Tax year.
• Course Transcript confirming attendance on Access to HE Course in 2022/23 Academic Year (if applicable).
• Tenancy Agreement (if applicable)
• Bank statements for the past 3 months
• Weekly/monthly payslip (if applicable)
• Completed Budget Planner

All evidence should be sent to [email protected]

Ravensbourne will reimburse students in receipt of DSA equipment allocation the £200 they are required to pay to access their support.

Eligibility:

Students in receipt of DSA equipment allocation and eligible for student opportunity funding.

How to apply

Once DSA is confirmed, students should complete the online application form and supply a copy of the receipt of payment.

It is often difficult for care leavers and estranged students to find someone who is willing to act as a guarantor when booking accommodation. It is an equal challenge to provide a co-signer when booking with a guarantor provider like Housing Hand and to find the fee for the service.

As part of our pledge to support our care leavers and estranged students, we are working in affiliation with Housing Hand to offer a free, no co-signer required, guarantor service to qualifying students.

To find out more about this service, please contact [email protected].