Ten Bizarre Student Bursaries…From being a Golfer to a Vegetarian!

June 20, 2013

• University and Higher Education

Recent analysis has revealed that university could result with students leaving with a £75,000 due to the rise in tuition fees to £9,000 as well as living costs incurred during a three year degree. It is, therefore, not a bad idea to look around at grants and scholarships that are on offer to new students. Read on for a few of the more peculiar ones to see if they could apply to you….

Royal & Ancient Golf Scholarship: It may seem ironic that this expensive hobby can in fact help you through university….the saying ‘it swings in roundabouts’ certainly does seem apt here! Keen golfers have the chance to receive up to £5,000 at twelve UK universities when awarded a Royal & Ancient Gold Scholarship. This is not easy to achieve though with men expected to have a handicap of +1 or better along with the guideline for women being +3 or better.

The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Scholarship: Any student studying any subject through the medium of Welsh is in a position to apply for up to £3,000 through the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol Scholarship.

Vegetarian Charity Grant: Yes, it is true! This charity offers a one-off award of £500 to a student who endeavours to not eat any meat as well as being in financial need. The student must be able to demonstrate a ‘clear commitment’ to a vegan or vegetarian diet.

Leverhulme Trust Undergraduate Bursary: This bursary is proof that selling vegetables and not just eating them is a good basis for financial reward too. The Levehulme Trade Charities Trust offers bursaries of up to £3,000 to students who are in need of financial support and a very close relation of a grocer.

IdeasTap University Grant: This Arts Career Network invites all arts and music students to pitch their ideas that could help improve their service… This could be anything and everything so let your imagination run wild! The top idea will win £9,000, this will be lump sum and paid directly to the Student Loans Company.

Yorkshire Ladies Council of Education: Carry on reading if you are not from Yorkshire but still a lady…. This is a grant of up to £300 awarded to women who have been offered a place at a UK University but unable to finance it themselves and are over the age of twenty one.

Merchant Venturers Bursary: Do you have a Bristol postcode? Do you have an ”enthusiasm for engineering”? If so, then this could be something for you! This prestigious entrepreneurial society offers up to £3,000 for a student who can say yes to both of these things.

Royal Navy: This is a university bursary and sponsorship for sixth form too through the one and two year Royal Navy Scholarship Schemes. A guaranteed entry place will also be received by those that are successful.

The Milford Haven Port Authority: The Milford Haven Port Authority is awarding a one-off £1,500 scholarship to any student applying to a British university and has completed most of their education in Pembrokeshire. On top of this, a placement at the port authority itself during the summer holidays is also given.

Desmond Tutu Scholarship: There are five of these scholarships available and they offer £8,000 a year (so a maximum of £24,000) to students who are devoted to helping the developing world as well as being in financial need. Anyone thinking of applying must be prepared to show that, on graduation, they will have skills to be able ”to build better futures for disadvantaged peoples around the world”.

Have you heard of any other bizarre bursaries? Let us know.  Kings Tutors looks forward to hearing from you.