Written by Jamie Carter | Last updated: 11 June 2025
Let’s be honest—uni is expensive. Like, scary expensive. Between tuition, books, rent, and the occasional stress-fuelled takeaway, your bank account takes a hit faster than you can say “student overdraft.”
If you’re anything like I was, you’ve probably stared at your tuition bill wondering if there’s some secret money tree no one’s told you about. Spoiler: There isn’t. But there are scholarships, bursaries, and grants out there—and they’re a lot more accessible than you might think.
I’ve gone through this process myself. Got rejected a few times. Got lucky a few times. Eventually, I pieced together enough help to get me through uni without totally drowning in debt. So yeah, this guide isn’t just theoretical—it’s what I actually did.
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| How to Find Scholarships and Financial Aid |
🎯 Start with the People Already on Your Side
First stop: your university’s financial aid office.
Sounds boring, I know. But they’re there specifically to help students like us. When I finally walked in (after months of putting it off), I found out I was eligible for a small hardship bursary just because of my household income. Literally no one told me about it—I had to ask.
Don’t be shy about booking an appointment or firing off an email. Ask if your specific department offers support, too. I was studying media, and turns out there was a travel grant for students doing placements abroad. That covered my train to Manchester for a mini-doc project. Every little helps, right?
💸 Don’t Sleep on Government Support
Depending on where you live, there’s probably some kind of student funding system already in place.
In the UK, you’ve got Student Finance England. They handle tuition loans and maintenance loans, but there are also grants you don’t have to pay back—especially if you’ve got a disability, dependents, or come from a lower-income family.
In the US, you’ve got FAFSA. Fill it out even if you think you won’t qualify. Loads of people assume they earn “too much,” but the formula considers way more than just your parents’ salary.
Biggest lesson here? Apply anyway. The worst that happens is a polite “no.” The best? Free money.
🔍 Use the Internet Like a Treasure Map
There are actually websites that exist just to connect students with scholarships. Wild, right?
Here are a few I found helpful:
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Scholarships.com – Pretty solid for U.S. students
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Fastweb – Super user-friendly
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Chegg Scholarships – Updated often
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ScholarshipPortal – Great if you’re in the EU
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Prospects.ac.uk – UK-specific opportunities
You just create a profile, enter your background and interests, and get matched. It’s weirdly like Tinder, but for scholarships. Less ghosting, thankfully.
Important note: Real scholarships don’t charge application fees. If a site asks for money upfront, it’s probably a scam. Close the tab. Move on.
📝 Write Like a Human, Not a Robot
Most scholarship applications want a personal statement or essay. This is your chance to stand out.
Forget the stiff academic tone. Seriously. Just talk about who you are and why this scholarship would make a difference. I once wrote about how I used to do photography on my phone because I couldn’t afford a camera. That story landed me a creative arts grant.
My tips?
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Be honest
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Keep it specific
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Don’t be afraid to get personal
And for the love of coffee, proofread it. Better yet, get a friend or mentor to check it over. Typos don’t exactly scream “trust me with money.”
🎯 Go Weird and Specific
This is the fun part: niche scholarships.
There are awards for everything from being left-handed (not joking) to being the child of a firefighter, to loving anime. Seriously. I once found a scholarship for students who write fanfiction.
Start local. Small businesses, religious groups, charities, and even your parents' workplaces sometimes offer support. I once got £500 from a local rotary club just because I gave a short talk about my degree plans.
The more specific your background, hobbies, or challenges? The more likely there’s something tailored to you.
💼 Don’t Forget About Part-Time Work or Work-Study
Alright, this one’s not free money—but it’s still money.
During my second year, I worked ten hours a week in the university’s media lab. The hours were flexible, it was on campus, and I got to practice skills I actually used later in my career.
If you’re in the US or Canada, check out work-study programs. If you’re in the UK, your student visa (if international) might allow a set number of hours.
Also: campus jobs usually don’t ask for heaps of experience. It’s okay to be a beginner.
🧠 Stay Organised or Risk Losing It
Real talk: the biggest challenge isn’t always finding scholarships—it’s keeping track of them.
What helped me was a colour-coded spreadsheet (yes, I’m that person). I tracked:
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Scholarship name
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Deadline
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Application status
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Contact info
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Requirements (like essays or transcripts)
Set calendar reminders at least a week before each deadline. Don’t rely on your brain alone. Mine betrayed me more than once.
✨ Final Thoughts
Finding scholarships and financial aid is a bit like dating—it takes effort, involves rejection, but eventually pays off if you keep going.
I managed to cover around 70% of my uni costs through a combination of bursaries, odd scholarships, and part-time jobs. It didn’t happen overnight. Some days I wanted to throw my laptop out the window. But looking back, I’m so glad I stuck with it.
You don’t need perfect grades or some heartbreaking backstory. You just need persistence—and the willingness to ask.
Start now. Even if you only get one small award, that’s money you don’t have to borrow later. And trust me, future-you will be so thankful.
✍️ Written by Jamie Carter
Jamie is a freelance writer from Leeds with a mild stationery addiction and a big heart for student life. As a first-gen uni grad, he knows the financial struggle all too well—and loves helping others figure it out with a side of sarcasm and Spotify.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult a licensed financial advisor for personal advice.
