There are plenty of ways to fund your university education, but perhaps the most exciting prospect is the chance to get free university scholarships in the UK! If you’re not aware, you can apply to all sorts of organisations and trusts to get financial aid, with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of opportunities available each year. Here are 5 ways to get a free university scholarship in the UK!
1) Remember that there are many different kinds of scholarships
need-based, merit-based, athletic scholarships and so on. The best way to find out if you qualify for a specific scholarship is to reach out to your school’s financial aid office. Some schools also offer online guides that can help you search for available scholarships at any level. If you’re having trouble paying for college, visit your school’s financial aid website and talk with an advisor about how and where you can get extra funding. You should also check with government websites or nonprofit organizations focused on finding money for students; they often have great information about local scholarship opportunities as well as national grants that can help cover expenses like tuition, books and transportation costs. Finally, don’t forget to ask friends and family members if they know of any scholarships that you might be eligible for. They may not even realize it! After all, they probably want to see you succeed just as much as you do.
There are several ways to reduce your student debt: getting a part-time job while attending classes, living at home while going to school (if possible), and taking less expensive courses are just some examples. However, if these options aren’t feasible for you right now then there are still things you can do that will lower your monthly payments and allow you to pay off your loans faster than originally planned. Here are some tips from leading personal finance experts
2) Understand how much money you need from your parents
Unless you win one of those top scholarships, which rarely go to first-year students, you’re going to need some help paying for college. The good news is that even if your parents can’t pay for everything, they may be able to offer enough financial aid that you don’t have to borrow any money at all. Here are five ways you can convince them that higher education is worth spending money on The best way to get your parents on board with footing part of your tuition bill is by showing them how much it will save them in future expenses. If you’re planning to major in engineering or computer science, for example, show how much more money they’ll make over their lifetime than someone who doesn’t have a degree. And tell them about how long it takes most people with engineering degrees to start earning big bucks—it could be as soon as two years after graduation!
You might think that applying for student loans would put pressure on your parents to kick in more cash.
3) Attend open days
Open days are an excellent way of getting insight into what you can expect from studying at each institution, which will help you work out whether or not it’s right for you. Make sure to ask questions and get as much info as possible; your academic goals and financial situation might mean that some colleges are simply out of reach. Speaking with current students is also a great way of finding out if they like their course, their university and their overall experience. And don’t forget: many universities offer scholarships, so be sure to ask! If you have any family friends or contacts who work in higher education, find out if they can recommend any opportunities too. The more options you have, the better chance you have of scoring free money for uni. Remember, though: not all scholarships require good grades – sometimes specific hobbies or extracurricular activities count towards awards too. For example, certain sports teams may offer grants for talented athletes, whilst societies could provide funds for members willing to lead projects and organize events. Some charities may also sponsor deserving candidates with no connection to a particular club. Whatever route you take, remember that attending open days is a must – make sure you attend as many as possible (ideally three or four) before making your final decision on where to study!
4) Think about studying at an older institution
If you’re looking for scholarships at one of England’s well-established universities—Oxford, Cambridge, St. Andrews—the common wisdom is that your chances are slim, particularly if you have less than perfect grades. But consider applying to a smaller institution or an older university (founded prior to 1851). As long as your grades aren’t atrocious, there’s more of a chance that you might be accepted. And even if you don’t get a scholarship, these schools tend to offer discounted tuition rates for students who receive financial aid. The University of Leeds and Manchester Metropolitan University both have programs specifically designed to help international students find funding. At Manchester, for example, about half of all international students are awarded some sort of scholarship or financial support. That said, make sure you check with each school’s admissions office to see what kind of support they can offer before you apply.
5) Don’t give up on your dream to study what you want
Don’t give up on your dream of getting into university just because you don’t have any scholarship opportunities. You can apply for scholarships as part of your application and there are hundreds of scholarships available from local or national groups that provide money towards study. You might not get paid much, but even small amounts can help. If you don’t manage to get a scholarship, then consider applying for one of many thousands of jobs that require degrees and pay quite well – e.g., trainee accountant or legal assistant – which will at least let you put off thinking about what you really want to do with your life until after graduation when all these decisions will seem much easier! It’s easy to feel trapped by financial issues when deciding whether or not to go to university. It’s also easy to forget that universities aren’t just places where you go to learn: they’re also places where people work, so it’s worth checking out job listings too. The best way is always direct contact; call them up (or send an email) and ask them if they have any vacancies relevant to your course.