Access Postgrad Scholarship: terms and conditions

Go to an overview of the Access Postgrad Scholarship.

Eligibility

To receive an award towards the cost of 2026/27 tuition fees, students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • have undertaken an undergraduate course at the University of Bristol in 2025/26
  • have completed the University of Bristol's Access Postgrad scheme in 2025/26, comprising a programme of mentoring and skills development
  • be a home (UK) fee-paying student
  • be undertaking a one-year full-time or two-year part-time postgraduate taught programme at the University of Bristol (on a MA, MSc, LLM, MRes programme).
  • meet one or more of the University's widening participation criteria.

Non-eligible programmes

These programmes will not qualify for the scholarship:

  • PGCE
  • PG Cert
  • PG Dip
  • MPhil
  • MScR
  • PhD
  • EdD
  • EngD
  • DEdPsych
  • MD
  • DDS
  • MMus.

Notification of scholarship

  • Successful students will be notified of their award by 30 June 2026.
  • If a successful recipient withdraws their application to study, their award will be redistributed to another candidate.

Acceptance of the scholarship

  • Once notified that they have been successful in receiving the £5000 scholarship, recipients must follow the instructions given in the award notification email within 14 days of receipt to confirm that they wish to accept the award. 

Value and payment of the scholarship

Each successful Access Postgrad awardee will receive £5,000, which is payable in one instalment: 

  • £5,000 (mid-October 2026) 

Successful awardees undertaking either part-time study or a two-year full-time programme will receive the scholarship in the first year of study. 

Change of circumstances

Suspension

If the student starts their studies in September 2026 but suspends before payment of the scholarship, the £5000 scholarship not paid in the first year may be taken in the second year of studies. 

Deferral

The award is for the 2026/27 academic year only.

If, following the nomination of the scholarship, the recipient decides to defer the start of their studies to beyond 2026/27, their scholarship offer will be rescinded and redistributed to a reserve candidate who is starting in the 2026/27 academic year. 

Further information

If you have any questions about the scholarship, email postgraduate-recruitment@bristol.ac.uk.