Bursaries & Awards

What is the Student Health Association Bursary?

The Student Health Association runs the Student Enablement Fund (SEF). This is an award that gives students in the UK extra financial support whilst studying at University. Just like with any other grant or award, you must be eligible to apply for the award:

• You are on a University level degree that lasts for a year or more and this is on a full time or nearly full-time basis.
• You must have started your course.
• Your course must not have finished.
• You have a disability, medical conditional, sensory impairment, mental health condition, or specific learning difficulty that makes it harder for you to study for your course.

We advise students who haven’t already done so, to see if they are eligible to apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) first. This is a grant that gives students in the UK extra financial support whilst studying for an undergraduate, postgraduate or doctorate degree. We would advise that you apply for this grant first and also apply to see if you are eligible to receive the additional DSA grant that supports you to buy a laptop, iPad or computer, if this is what you need financial support for. The Student Health Association do not make awards to help you buy this type of computer equipment. More information can be found on the following websites:

The Disabled Students' Allowance Full Guide | Compare the Market

How much money could be awarded to students?

Most students can get anything between £25-£500 depending on what you are asking for. The maximum award given can be £500 but this is the most you may receive, not what you should expect to receive.

How to apply for the Student Health Association Bursary?

You can apply by completing the online application form which is then sent to us automatically. Your application will only be considered if you have answered every question on the application form and have submitted your evidence (please see below for what evidence we accept).

The deadline for applications is midnight on 1st March, 1st July and 1st November. The SEF fund rely on their agents who volunteer their time to assess each individual application; you should receive an outcome of your application 1 month after these dates. We advise you to complete each application with as much detail as possible, if more information is required, you will be contacted by email. You can only apply once.

You must specify exactly what you intend to purchase with any award made, and how this will support you to continue to study at university. Without this information, it will make it difficult for the SEF agents to assess your application and will result in your application being rejected.

What evidence is needed to apply for the Student Health Association Bursary?

There are a number of examples of evidence that will confirm you have a particular condition or disability, and these are listed below. If you have more than one condition or disability you will be required to submit evidence of each one. We will only make awards to those students where a condition or disability is confirmed.

• Medical letter from a doctor or consultant confirming your condition or disability.
• A Disability Evidence Form, completed by your doctor or qualified specialist.
• A written diagnostic report from a medical professional.
• A statement of special educational needs.
• Supporting letter from tutor, welfare advisor, disability officer or equivalent from your university.
• Result of your application for DSA.
• A screenshot of your medical record summary on the NHS App.

All the above evidence must include your full name and date of birth.

To support your application, we advise you to also send examples of the equipment, or adaptations you wish to purchase, along with the approximate cost.

When would we refuse to award a bursary?

If you are requesting financial support to help cover expenses incurred by all students, such a tuition fees, living costs, books and travel, then your application will be automatically rejected.

Your application will also be rejected if you wish to use any bursary to buy, or put towards, a laptop, iPad, or computer.

We do not make awards to support cost of medical treatments or medication. Nor medical equipment unless it is used specifically to support you to study.

How do you receive the Student Health Association Bursary?

If you are awarded a bursary, you will be informed by email. You will be asked to provide your bank details and payment will be made by bank transfer within a few days of confirmation of the award.

How to appeal if you’re not awarded a bursary?

The SEF agent’s decision is final. However, if you have concerns about how your application was processed, you can put into writing your concerns by email to .

What do we do with your application information and evidence once it has been assessed?

Your application is received and stored on a secure database until the application has been assessed. Once the SEF agents have assessed your application, this is deleted. Only your name, summary of condition and decision made about any award is held on a secure database for our own records.

All medical evidence submitted, once it has been viewed by our administrator to confirm receipt, is immediately deleted.

More information about how we use your data can be found in our Privacy Policy.

Please click here to apply for a bursary, once you have read and understood the application criteria above: Apply Now