Oxford Bursary frequently asked questions

How do I receive a bursary?

There is no application form for the Oxford Bursary. To be assessed for a bursary, you must first apply for UK government funding and ensure that you are financially assessed. You and any sponsors/parents must also agree to share your household income with the University. Provided that you have had your household income calculated by your funding agency and have consented to share this with us, the process is automatic.

Please check the eligibility information provided to see if you might be assessed for a bursary:

Students who started their course before 2012

Students who started their course in 2012 or 2013

When will I hear about an Oxford Bursary for 2013/14?

Letters regarding the bursary will start to be sent out in September 2013.

Letters are sent out to students on a rolling basis when information is received from the Student Loans Company regarding their household income assessment. They are sent to the address that you have registered with the SLC.

If you have received a financial notification from your funding agency indicating you have been financially assessed and will be in receipt of government support (including the maintenance grant for UK students), but have not heard from us at the end of September please email Student Financial Support at oxfordopportunity@admin.ox.ac.uk, remembering to include your student finance Customer Reference Number and the year you started your course, so we can check your record.

When and how will I receive my Oxford Bursary?

Provided all the required information is available, payments will be made to the bank account you have nominated to the Student Loans Company to receive your maintenance support. Payments will be made in the following weeks:

Michaelmas Term week 4
Hilary Term week 2
Trinity Term week 2

EU students will need to hold a UK bank account in order to receive the bursary, and should register their account details with the Student Loans Company.

Bursaries are approved throughout the academic year on a rolling basis until the deadline of 30 May 2014. No matter at what point during the year up to this deadline the award is made, it will be made for the whole year, e.g. if a student is awarded £3,000 they will receive this amount whether their award is made in Michaelmas, Hilary or Trinity Term; only the number of instalments will differ.

When is the deadline for bursaries to be awarded?

The closing date for the awarding of bursaries is 30 May 2014. No matter at what point during the year up to this deadline the award is made, it will be made for the whole year, e.g. if a student is awarded £3,000 they will receive this amount whether their award is made in Michaelmas, Hilary or Trinity Term; only the number of instalments will differ. You must ensure that your household income information is available to the University by this deadline.

How do I ensure that permission is given for my household income information to be shared with the University?

If you are using the online application for government funding, there is a section with boxes for you and your sponsor(s) to indicate their permission to share your household income with the University.

On the paper application for government funding both you and any sponsor(s) must sign the relevant section; it is important to note that if you have more than one sponsor the permission of both must be given.

If you believe either you or your sponsors/parents did not give permission you must contact the SLC to rectify this on 0845 603 4016. Please note both you and any sponsors will need to contact the SLC separately to give your consent to share your household income information.

If you are a Scottish student the process of giving consent to share your household income information is more complicated and you will need to contact SAAS directly on 0300 555 0505.

Why have I not received an Oxford Bursary when I believe my finalised household income assessment makes me eligible?

Letters regarding the bursary are sent out on a rolling basis when household income information is received from the Student Loans Company.

If you have not heard from us but have received notification from your funding agency that you have been financially assessed by them, the most likely reason is that the University does not have permission to access your household income data held by the Student Loans Company (SLC). Permission must be given by you and any sponsors for this data to be made available to the University.

If you believe you have not done this you should contact the SLC on 0845 603 4016 and indicate that you wish this information to be shared with the University and you should also check that any sponsor has given permission. Each sponsor must individually give permission, e.g. if both parents are listed on the form they must both individually give permission for the data to be shared before the University can see it.

If you are a Scottish student the process of giving consent to share your household income information is more complicated and you will need to contact SAAS directly on 0300 555 0505.

I have received a second letter regarding my Oxford Bursary and the amount has changed; why is this?

The University aims to pay students their Oxford Bursary as soon as is possible. In order to do this we may award bursaries whilst your household income assessment is provisional. If your household income is reassessed or changed on finalisation, your Oxford Bursary will be changed to reflect this. However you will not be asked to repay an overpayment unless it has been received fraudulently.

How can I receive my Oxford Bursary during my year abroad?

Students studying on their year abroad or undertaking a full year Erasmus work placement are eligible to access means tested support from the UK government and will therefore be assessed for an Oxford Bursary on the same basis as Oxford-based students.

If you require any clarification on your eligibility for support whilst on your year abroad or Erasmus work placement, please email the Erasmus Team at erasmus@admin.ox.ac.uk.

How do I ensure I continue to receive my Oxford Bursary whilst at Oxford?

In order to be assessed for an Oxford Bursary, UK students must be financially assessed for each year of their course through Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland. You will be able to complete your application for funding for the next academic year either online or in paper format from early 2014. A reminder should be issued by your awarding body that the form needs to be completed. However, it is your responsibility to ensure your funding application is completed, whether or not this reminder is received. You should aim to complete your application in good time for the new academic year to ensure the process is as smooth as possible. We recommend that you complete your application during the Easter vacation or in line with the deadlines given by the awarding body, whichever is earlier.

You must also ensure you register with the University at the start of each academic year. No payment can be issued to students until they have confirmed their attendance at the University.

EU students are financially assessed once at the start of their course, and the household income assessment remains in place for the duration of the course. EU students whose household income changes significantly during their course and who wish to be reassessed should contact Student Financial Support at oxfordopportunity@admin.ox.ac.uk for further advice on their status.

If you are an EU student who was not financially assessed in your first year and now wish to have an assessment by the Student Finance Services Non UK Team, please email oxfordopportunity@admin.ox.ac.uk.

My household income has reduced during the academic year; how can I be reassessed?

Student finance for the academic year 2013/14 is usually based on household income in the tax year 2011/12. UK students can request to be assessed on the current tax year if their household sustains a significant drop in income. Please note if you intend to request a current year assessment you must first give your 2011/12 tax year information as part of your student finance application to demonstrate the drop in income.

English students whose household income has dropped by at least 15% should complete a Current Year Income Assessment form.

Welsh students whose household income has dropped by at least 15% should complete a Current Year Income Assessment form.

Scottish students whose household income has dropped by at least 15% should complete a Household Income Form (AB36).

Northern Irish students whose household income has dropped by at least 5% should contact their Education and Library Board and request a current year assessment.

If you are an EU student who was not financially assessed in your first year and now wish to have an assessment, please email oxfordopportunity@admin.ox.ac.uk.

How do I obtain further information?

If your questions are not answered above please email oxfordopportunity@admin.ox.ac.uk, remembering to include your Customer Reference Number, full name, date of birth, and the year that you started your course.