See the financing options for Sussex courses and check if you’re eligible for funding. Also find out who to contact if you have a question.
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You can browse the full range of Sussex courses and see the funding on offer.
Funding explained
At Sussex, a:
- scholarship is a sum of money you receive as a cash amount towards a course at Sussex. It is normally deducted from the fees you pay to study at Sussex. Sometimes it’s also called an award.
- bursary is money you get towards tuition fees if your household income is below a certain amount.
- loan is money you borrow to pay for your studies. You begin paying it back after you graduate and start earning a certain amount of money.
- grant is usually given to PhD students or researchers towards their work by private donors, investors or research organisations.
Scholarships
You cannot apply for a scholarship as a current student for the remainder of a course. Scholarships are usually awarded before you begin your degree.
There are scholarship opportunities if you take another course at Sussex – for example, an undergraduate who stays at Sussex to study a Masters. See “Reducing the cost of a Masters” below.
If you’re struggling with money on your current course, you can apply for hardship funding.
Getting your scholarship
If you’re waiting for a scholarship that we have already confirmed, you should get a notification through Sussex Direct or within your formal scholarship offer letter (which you get after your course offer).
You should have this by September of your first year.
If you haven’t received anything by the first week of term, you should contact us.
If you are:
- an undergraduate or doing a Masters, email scholarships@sussex.ac.uk.
- doing a PhD, email doctoralschool@sussex.ac.uk.
Delays with payments
If there is a delay with a payment, you’ll notice this in the fee amount on your account.
If the fee is incorrect, email studentaccounts@sussex.ac.uk.
If you are expecting a cash payment, make sure that you have entered your current UK bank account details on Sussex Direct. You do this when you register as a Sussex student.
If you haven’t already, you’ll need to open a UK bank account.
Reducing the cost of a Masters
If you’re currently studying an undergraduate course with us, and you want to study a Masters at Sussex, it’s likely you can get a scholarship to reduce the fee.
If you're staying on to do a Masters you might be elgible for the Sussex Alumni Scholarship.
Check each option for details about eligibility and how to apply.
There are other scholarships for specific Masters courses, up to £10,000 in value.
Check all Masters scholarships.
Sussex Bursary
You receive the Sussex Bursary if you are a new undergraduate or Foundation Year student, with an assessed household income of less than £25,000.
How to apply
Your eligibility for the Sussex Bursary is assessed by the Student Loans Company when you make your application for funding.
When you’re applying for funding, make sure that you, and your sponsors, give authorisation for your income information to be shared with us when prompted.
Find out how to apply for student finance from the government.
You can check our funding database for more information on the latest Sussex Bursary, including payment amounts and eligibility details.
Getting a bursary as a continuing student
If you didn’t register for the Sussex Bursary when you started at Sussex, you may still be able to get one if your household income has changed.
There is a deadline when applying for the bursary, which changes each year.
Search for the latest Sussex Bursary to see if you qualify.
Contact the Student Funding team if you have any questions.
Finding your award or scheme
If you are a current student, and need to check details of an existing bursary, view the Sussex archive of past awards.
The Sussex Bursary was previously called the First Generation Scholars scheme.
If you received the award in the past, you should continue to receive these bursaries throughout your studies.
If your circumstances have changed
If there has been a change in your funding situation or the support your family can give you, this can have an impact on money you receive.
If you’re transferring to another course at Sussex, or going part-time, this can also affect your eligibility for funding.
Check how changes can affect your scholarship or bursary.
Students who plan to change their course entirely and reapply for something else go through the same application process as new students. You’d have to re-apply for any student funding.