Postgraduate Ethnicity Equality Bursary 2025/2026

To be eligible, you will need to meet all of the criteria below:

• Self-identify as one of the ethnic groups under the following headings on this published UK Government list:
  • Mixed or Multiple Ethnic Groups
  • Asian or Asian British
  • Black, African, Caribbean, or Black British
  • Other Ethnic Group*
• Have applied for entry to a full-time postgraduate degree starting in the 2025-2026 academic year.
• Applied for a course studying at a University of South Wales campus - Pontypridd (Treforest, Glyntaff and Sport Park), Cardiff, Newport
• Be a UK home student liable for the UK home rate of tuition fees
• Be enrolled full-time on a postgraduate course at time of payment in November 2025
• Applied for the bursary by 4th July 2025.

*Students whose ethnicity is Gypsy, Roma, Irish Traveller, Boatman or Showman also qualify for this bursary.

You will receive £1,000 paid directly into your bank account when the bursary is confirmed by the end of November 2025. The Student Money Advice Team will contact eligible students in November 2025 with information on how to access the bursary.

The bursary is only available in your first year of study. Please note: Eligible students must be in good academic and financial standing with the University at point of payment e.g., they must not be a debtor without a payment plan.

To determine who will receive the University of South Wales Postgraduate Ethnicity Equality Bursary, the awarding panel will consider each of the following:

1. Whether the applicant meets the eligibility criteria of the bursary

2. The information provided in your supporting statement for the bursary

3. The information provided on how you would envisage spending the bursary

4. Priority will be given to applicants:

• • Who are under 25 and have previously been in care

  • Who have a disability (including a specific leaning disability)

  • Who are estranged from their family

  • Who are the first person in their family to attend university

  • Who are refugees

  • Your home postcode is in a Low Participation Neighbourhood

  • Who are Carers - The Carers’ Trust definition of a carer is “anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.” Please note that these duties would be in addition to the usual caring responsibilities that a parent would have for a dependent child

  • Those not eligible for another USW Bursary or Scholarship.

You may be requested to provide a reference to assist your application before final decisions are made.

The decision of the selection panel is final and there is no appeal process.

The Student Money Advice Team will contact you using the email address listed on the bursary application form within 10 working days of receipt of the application to confirm that we have received your application.

After the closing date, the panel will consider all eligible applications for the bursary. We aim to notify eligible students by Friday, 25th July, 2025.

Yes.

No, this bursary is payable in your first year only.

Yes.

No, the University of South Wales Postgraduate Ethnicity Equality Bursary is only available to students who the University has identified as home UK students.

If you are planning to start your course in September 2026, you will need to check the details of any bursary or scholarship scheme available to new students starting in September 2026 and fulfil the eligibility criteria relating to that scheme, including making an application at that time if appropriate.

All full-time on campus postgraduate courses are considered for the bursary, this includes the following MA, MSc, LLM, MBA, DBA, PGCE, Postgraduate Diploma, Postgraduate Certificate, MRes, PhD, MPhil, Masters by Research.

If you are studying an Integrated Masters (MChiro, MComp, MEng) you can apply for the undergraduate bursary.

If you are studying an online/ e-learning postgraduate course or are studying a postgraduate course with a franchised partnership e.g. Learna Ltd, UNICAF and Perpetuity Training, you would not be eligible for the University of South Wales Postgraduate Ethnicity Equality Bursary.

You will still be eligible to receive payment at the intended time if you transfer to another eligible course.

No. The bursary is only for new students starting a new full-time postgraduate course in September 2025.

No. The bursary is only for new students starting a new full-time eligible postgraduate course in September 2025.

If you leave the University before payment in November 2025 you will not be eligible to receive the bursary payment.

If you decide to leave the University after your payment has been made, you are entitled to keep the payment.

Yes. By accepting any payments you are agreeing to repay any amounts that are subsequently found to be overpayments or incorrect payments.

Any overpayments that are not repaid will result in the debt being referred to the University Finance department and appropriate action taken.