The Bason Family Bursary

Award value

Tuition fee: Full tuition fee waiver
Paid directly to you: £6,000 per year
Award length: Length of degree

Study level: Undergraduate
Fee status: Home (UK)
Number of awards available: 3

Student type: Prospective
Application deadline: 26 April 2026

Eligible students

Low income households Black students

Applicable subject areas

All undergraduate degrees

Still unsure if this is for you? Then please contact us

The University partnered with the Bason Family; John and Kate, in 2025, and their donation will support three Black African or Caribbean heritage students from low socio-economic backgrounds, with their studying and living costs for the duration of their degree.

Scheme eligibility

Essential criteria are criteria you must meet to be considered for this scheme. Students who do not meet this criteria will not be considered for this award. The essential criteria for this scheme are as follows:

You must identify as belonging to one of the following ethnic groups: Black or Black British – Caribbean, Black or Black British – African, Mixed – White and Black Caribbean, Mixed – White and Black African, Other Black background
You must have applied to study an undergraduate degree at The University of Manchester starting in the year that you are applying for this scholarship
You must have been assessed for fee status as a 'home' student;
You must have submitted an application to your regional student funding authority (Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland, or Scotland), had a full household income assessment, and consented to share your Student Finance information with your university;
You must have a household income of £31,000 per annum or less, as assessed by your regional student funding authority;
Currently live in Greater Manchester or have lived here since 2021

Priority criteria

Priority criteria are additional criteria we use based on the information you have provided us to make our final selection decisions. The priority criteria for this scheme are as follows:

Personal factors:

If you are a care leaver or care-experienced student;
If you are an estranged/independent student;
If you are a young carer;
If you are a refugee or asylum seeker;
If you have a disability;
If you are from a military family;

Socio-economic factors:

If you were eligible for free school meals during secondary education;
If you live in an area of relative deprivation.

Higher education progression information:

If you live in a postcode of low progression to higher education;
If you went to a low attaining secondary school;
If you go to a low attaining sixth form/college.

How to apply

Students must complete the application form to be considered for this award.

What you need to apply

Within the application, you will be asked to evidence each of the eligibility criteria and priority criteria that you meet. This will require formal evidence.

You will need (depending on which priority criteria you meet):

A letter evidencing your address
If you are care experienced, you will be required to provide a letter from your local authority or social worker confirming your time in care
If you are estranged from your parents, you will need to provide a letter from a professional to confirm your estrangement, including a teacher, doctor, social worker
If you are a young carer, you will need to provide evidence of this using a young carer assessment, carer card/passport, a letter from your GP or a healthcare professional, or a letter from another professional including a teacher or social worker
If you are a refugee or asylum seeker, you will need to provide evidence of your immigration status through a letter from the home office or a share code
If you have a disability, you will be required to provide a letter showing your personal independence payment or a letter from your school confirming what additional support they provide you
If you are from a military family, you will need to provide a letter evidencing this

Selection process

We will use the information provided in your application form and the evidence provided, along with your supporting statement and the information provided by UCAS to prioritise the applicants.
We will prioritise students based on the number and nature of the priority criteria that you meet.

Terms and conditions

Sharing your household income information

When completing your Student Finance England Application, you will need to ensure you have selected the option to consent to share your household income information with the Universities you have applied to or hold an offer with. Without this we cannot access that information, and we will not be able to consider your application for this scheme.

Breaks in funding

This award is not provided during study years abroad, placement years, or if a student takes a study interruption.

Your course offer and this scheme

Receipt of this award is subject to you meeting you course offer commitments and registering at the University of Manchester in the year of entry specified in the application form.

Engaging with donors

This scheme is generously supported by a donor. Successful applicants will be expected to provide regular updates on their progress to the donor and meet with them as part of the terms and conditions of receiving the award.

Understanding your fee status

This scheme uses your fee status as part of its eligibility criteria. Find out more about how the University of Manchester assesses tuition fee statuses here: https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/tuition-fee-status/

Application and Selection

Completing an application for this award does not guarantee you will receive this award

Applicants must meet eligibility criteria and be in a position to verify their circumstances in order to apply. Applicants who do not meet the criteria will not be considered for an award

The Bason Family Bursary

Key information