University of Leicester Bursary Scheme

The University of Leicester Bursary Scheme provides financial support to undergraduate students from low-income backgrounds or those who have completed eligible progression programmes. For courses starting in academic years 2025/26 and 2026/27, eligible students receive £1,000 cash for each year of their course (excluding industrial placement years). Students qualify if they either completed an eligible progression programme (such as Access Leicester, Sutton Trust Pathway programme, UKWPMED partner programme, or Realising Opportunities programme) or if they live in a postcode identified as Index of Multiple Deprivation Quintile 1 (IMD Q1) and have a verified household income of £30,000 or less as confirmed by Student Finance. The bursary is paid directly to students at the start of semester 2 through their Student Loan Company account. This scheme is available for all subjects including Medicine, though medical students receive the bursary only for the first four years of their degree since NHS funding covers the fifth year. There is no application process required as eligibility is automatically assessed based on student data provided to UCAS and Student Finance.