Please note we have updated our eligibility criteria for the 2024 October round – please read below:
Our undergraduate bursaries are designed to provide support to UK students in financial need, who have a parent or spouse, or who they themselves work:
- In the Grocery Industry
- In a Community Pharmacy or as a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician
- As a Commercial Traveller, and;
Who are registered on a full-time undergraduate degree course at a recognised UK university. The information in this section explains more about eligibility, and the terms we use.
Eligible students
Applicants must be resident in the UK and be the son or daughter, spouse, or be employed themselves:
- In the Grocery Industry
- In a Community Pharmacy or as a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician
- As a Commercial Traveller, and;
Who are currently working in this capacity and who have been employed in this capacity in the UK for at least 5 years (from time of applying).
Eligible courses
Any full-time first degree course at a higher or further education institution in the UK. This institution is a body recognised by the Secretary of State for Education and Employment for the award of a degree, or an institution (such as a college) that provides a degree course, that will be validated by another institution (such as a university). We do not fund distance learning courses.
Eligible costs
You can apply for assistance with any reasonable costs associated with study, including: tuition and examination fees, travel costs, study materials and accommodation.
Financial need
We prioritise students whose household income is below £50,000 and we will not consider applications from students who have a household income over £90,000.
Our grants are for students who are already in attendance or are planning on attending university in the Autumn of the year of application, through their own financial means (e.g. Student Finance/part time job etc), but whose life at university would be made easier with a bursary. For example, to help the student live away from home in rented accommodation near their university, to allow them to take fewer shifts at a part time job, or to better equip them for study.
The application form requires the student to explain their financial need, items they require funding for and an explanation as to how the funds would help them. The eligible parent/spouse is required to provide their financial details to confirm the financial need of the applicant.
It is not possible to offer bursaries to all those that apply, nor is it possible to award the maximum bursary to those who are successful. Therefore, whilst we want our bursaries to make a difference to student, an application for a bursary should not be relied on to grant access to a university course that the student would otherwise be unable to fund by their own means.
Eligible occupations
To be eligible to apply for an undergraduate bursary, applicants must have a parent or spouse be employed themselves:
- In the Grocery Industry
- In a Community Pharmacy or as a registered Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician
- As a Commercial Traveller, and;
- In the UK for at least five years; and
- Currently working in one of these occupations
What we mean by ‘Someone who Works in the Grocer Industry’
The grocery industry includes anyone who works for a supermarket (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, ASDA), wholesaler (Cash and Carry), manufacturer, supplier, convenience store, independent grocer, petrol forecourt store or service provider to the grocery industry.
We also support businesses in the foodservice wholesale sector:
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Foodservice Wholesalers - These wholesalers supply food and non-food items to the catering industry, such as restaurants, cafes, hotels, and other food establishments.
What we mean by ‘Someone who Works in a Community Pharmacy or who works as a Pharmacist or Pharmacy Technician’
Any one that work in a community pharmacy. This includes the following:
- Pharmacist – Who is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC), who sells or dispenses medicines directly to the public.
- Pharmacy Technician – Who prepare and dispense prescriptions under the supervision of a pharmacist and are also registered with the GPhC.
- Pharmacy Dispenser – Who supports a registered Pharmacist with the preparation and dispensing of prescription medications
- Pharmacy Assistant – Who updates patient files, helps answer customer questions, and assisting customers with purchasing their prescriptions.
- Counter Assistant – Who offer information and advice to customers and re-stock shelves and keep displays clean and tidy.
- All GPhC registered pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who work in any setting.
What we mean by ‘commercial traveller’
- A commercial traveller is the representative, agent or principal of any manufacturer, industrial or commercial firm or company, or wholesale dealers selling to industry or commerce, but not direct to the public;
- Who works in the UK and has travelled for 5 consecutive years and for a total of at least 6 months in each of those years, for the purposes of securing orders and/or promoting business.
Unfortunately, we are not able to fund students at the following universities:
- BPP University – unless it is for tuition fees that will go straight to the university
- University of Law
- Middlesex University
- Open University