Applying for buseries

Fash

Can anyone advise me please - I'm unemployed and my son is hoping to go to university in September. I have sent off the forms for loans but I heard there can be burseries available for students at the university they want to go to. I checked the website and to apply you need to send in a personal statement. Can anyone tell me what type of information you put in the personal statement?

Thanks
Regards

Rikki

I'm not aware of sending in a personal statement by the parents. The personal statement is normally for the applicant.

My son completed the forms for the normal student loan. They then write to you for confirmation of your financial circumstances. Once the loan and bursary is awarded they tell you who will be making each payment.

The loan is --% and then --% is made up by the university bursary = total amount.

Rikki

Just to add google the university of your choice to find out all that is available some universitys have their own addition bursaries.

Fash

Sorry don't think I was clear in my post - it's the additional burseries given by university of choice I'm referring to. When I checked the uni online it asked for a personal statement. I realise that my son will have to do the personal statement but when he asked what goes into it I hadn't a clue, hence my post.

Hope this is clearer.
Thanks and Regards

Rikki

Universities have till March to give out all their offers of a place
I've just spoken to my son and he didn't apply for bursaries till he had been accepted.

The school or college normally advice the students what to put in their personal statements. I think these should have been done for this years intake.

Which university has he got a conditional offer for?

Oldernotwiser

I think that there may be some misunderstanding here between the Personal Statement needed for university applications and something that seems to be asked for by the university for its bursary applications. I haven't come across this myself, but the school should advise him about it.

sophisticated.

I had to write a statement about why I wanted a bursary I applied for last year (however this was an excellence bursary based on academic merit rather than finanical circumstances so different situation) and I just wrote about what I would use the money for. Perhaps your son could do the same sort of thing?

La-Cara

As sophisticated. said there are bursaries available based on academic merit, and others are based on financial need, so it would be good if your son found out what this particular bursary is for. I applied for one based on financial need, and I had to write about my circumstances which meant that it would be difficult for me to accept a place at uni. Examples of this would be if you are a carer/parent, so can't work many hours at a part time job, or if you are from a low-income background. There should be eligibility criteria on the uni website somewhere, but if not then your son should phone the university and ask them.

proudmum_3

My son received a Bursary from his Uni for academic acheivement. However, The award wasn't given until after he had started and he gets a certain amount per year.
The grant (for accomodation costs) which he will apply for, can be means tested providing you fill in that particular section on the Student loan forms, then they take parents income into consideration.
Things do vary from Uni to Uni, so once your son has had his conditional offer, then i would speak to the admissions office at that Uni, whom i am sure will explain what your son would be entitled to apply for.
I have to add though, that both my husband and i are low earners, (plus husband had been made redundant twice whilst son was at Uni) but it hasn't affected our sons' time there. He has still done loads of stuff without much help from us. I am sure your son will be able to get himself a few hours work whilst he's there to boost his grant.

Fash

Hi - thank you all so much for your advice.

Proudmum - yes it was help for accommodation costs I was thinking about - he wants to go away to university and I hated the thought that he would have to stay at home because I couldn't afford to help him out.

I'll do what you suggest and ring the admissions office to make enquiries. My income (or lack of!) details are on the loan forms so I'm hoping that he'll get the full loans, otherwise I don't know how we'll manage.

Fortunately, he's been working part-time for a couple of years and is happy to get another one while at university so fingers crossed it works out.

Thanks again for your support!

I keep saying it - I love this site!

Regards

proudmum_3

Hi Fash,
Seems like you have pretty much got things sorted.
As i said, we are both on low incomes and our son was entitled to the full loan/grant. He is studying away from home and has managed OK. He didn't work in his first year, but has been working a few hours in his second.
He has just cut down on hours for his third as he has a lot more studying to do but worked throughout the summer to help pay for it.
Good luck and i am sure that things will be OK.
Students do seem to manage from what i have heard, so don't let your lack of income put you both off!
Good luck and i am sure he will have a great time.