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Applications for the Education Bursary Award Scheme are now closed.

University Education Bursary Award Scheme

Applications for the University Education Bursary Award Scheme 2025 – 2026 are now open!

The Naval Children’s Charity are delighted to launch our new University Education Bursary Award Scheme in collaboration with the JS Group through their innovative Aspire platform.

Learn More

The Bursary scheme has three parts to it:

Resource Award

For year 1 of study only, to be spent on equipment/resources for your course.

Cost of Learning Award

Annual bursary to be spent primarily on helping with the cost of rent/groceries/utilities.

Living Away From Home Award

Annual bursary if you are living away from home in student accommodation.

If you fit the following criteria you can apply for a University Education Bursary today!
  • You are the child/dependant of someone who is either a Serving or Veteran of the Royal Navy and 25 years or under (includes Royal Navy, Royal Marines, QARNNS, WRNS, Reserves and Royal Fleet Auxiliary)
  • Your annual gross household income for family < £70,000
  • You are starting or currently studying for an Undergraduate First Degree only NOT Masters/PhD/degree apprenticeships
  • We understand that every family is unique and will consider specific family circumstances when making awards. If you feel that you fall outside the financial criteria but have extenuating circumstances, please fill out an application form telling us what those are.

You will be asked to fill in an application form and provide the following information to accompany your application:

  • Payslip/s of parents/guardians showing wages/salary
  • Paperwork for all other income (bank statements are acceptable)
  • Confirmation from University of offer of place
  • Confirmation of Student tuition/maintenance loans
  • Verification of service of parent/guardian (if not showing on recent payslip)

Please ensure that you have read our data protection policy (which can be found on the website at the bottom of the page) and agree to us processing your data.

Conditions of Award

If you are successful in receiving an Award, you will need to comply with the following grant conditions:

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All applicants over 18 years of age must have a bank account in their own name. No parent or family member bank details will be accepted. Your Award will be administered through the Aspire portal and, if successful, you will be sent details on this.
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In February 2026 we will email you a progress report form. You will need to have this completed by your tutor/course leader and return it to us. Failure to submit this progress report may result in your grant being suspended from March 2026.
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If you leave your course for any reason you must get in touch with us as soon as possible.
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In summer 2026 you will need to send us a copy of your final grades. Failure to send your grades may affect your eligibility for future grants from the University Bursary Award scheme.
Applications for the Education Bursary Award Scheme are now closed.

The Education Bursary Award Scheme is now closed for the current academic year. Please check back soon for details regarding the scheme for the upcoming academic year.

If you have any questions please contact caseworkers@navalchildrenscharity.org.uk or ring 023 9263 9534

Clare Scherer MBE, Chief Executive of The Naval Children’s Charity commented:

The Naval Children’s Charity are excited to be able to offer wider support to our young people who are entering Higher Education. We know that they can face additional challenges with their education, so we are delighted to be supporting them in this way. Education is one of the fundamental building blocks of life and supporting our young people to access University in this way is one of the most important things we can do for them and future generations.
— Clare Scherer MBE, Chief Executive