First-Generation Scholars Scheme for Students Starting in 2018 (2018)

What you get

First year of study (Foundation Year or Year 1 only): £2,000 cash for rent. Subsequent years: £1,000 cash.

Type of award

Undergraduate and Foundation Year

Eligibility

To be eligible for financial support through the First-Generation Scholars Scheme for Students Starting in 2018, you must:

• be a UK applicant
• qualify for home fee status
• qualify to receive a maintenance loan through the Student Loans Company
• be applying for/studying an undergraduate full-time course, from the academic year 2018/19 onwards
• have a household income of less than £42,875 a year.
• have given permission to Student Finance for household income information to be shared with the University

Your household income is based on your own income, plus your parents' income if you are under 25, or your partner's income if you are married / in a civil partnership or over 25.

Your household income must be validated by:

• Student Finance England - or
• Student Finance Wales - or
• Students Awards Agency for Scotland - or
• Student Finance ni.

Find out more about your household income and Student Finance England's validation process

Care leavers

If you are a care leaver, you are eligible for our Care Leavers Award instead of this award. You cannot receive both this award and our Care Leavers Award unless you are studying for a year abroad, in which case you will receive the additional £2,000 from the First-Generation Scholars Scheme.

Social work and National Health Service (NHS) bursary holders If you receive a Social Work or National Health Service (NHS) bursary, you are not eligible for this award.

First-Generation Scholars Scheme for Students Who Started Before 2018 Details on the scheme available for students who started their course in or after the 2012/13 academic year and before the 2018/19 academic year can be found here.

Year abroad If you choose to study abroad for a year as part of your course, you receive £2,000 during your year abroad - paid to you in two instalments of £1,000 in September and March.

Placement year If you choose to do a year-long paid professional placement as part of your course, you will not receive any scholarship funding for that year, because you pay a reduced fee during this period.

If you choose to undertake an unpaid service placement (for example, in the NHS) as part of your course, you will receive £1,000 cash paid to you in two instalments of £500 in November and March.

Repeating a year of study You are eligible to receive £1,000 for one repeat year. This includes if you transfer to a different course. You will not receive funding for any subsequent repeat years throughout your undergraduate degree.

Sussex Excellence Scholarship You can be eligible for, and receive, both this award and the Sussex Excellence Scholarship in your first year of study

How to apply

Your eligibility for the First-Generation Scholars Scheme financial support will be assessed by the Student Loans Company (SLC) when you make your application for funding.

When you're applying for funding, make sure that you give authorisation for your income information to be shared with the SLC when prompted, so that they can make this assessment.

Find out how to apply for funding from the SLC

If you are holding the University of Sussex as your first choice and if you are eligible for the First-Generation Scholars Scheme financial support, the SLC will send you a letter to confirm your entitlement.

Sponsors

Career and study support

Students who are from a low-income household can have access to funded work experience opportunities, including internships and research placements. Students who are the first in their family to attend university can receive additional careers and study support.

Contact internships@sussex.ac.uk with any questions about the careers and study support available as part of the First-Generation Scholars Scheme.

Contact us

studentfunding@sussex.ac.uk
01273 872994

Timetable

First year of study (Foundation Year or Year 1 Only)
£2,000 paid to you in two instalments of £1,000 in November and March. It is anticipated that you will use this award towards paying for accommodation of your choice on or off campus.

Subsequent Years
£1,000 cash paid to you in two instalments of £500 in November and March.