New scholarships support students from all backgrounds to access university education.

York St John University’s existing contextual offer scheme was introduced in 2018 and takes into consideration the wider background factors that university applicants may have had to overcome during their school years. The innovative scheme uses a mixture of conditional, unconditional and reduced points offers. The approach reinforces the University’s long-standing ethos of making a university education available to people from all backgrounds.  

The new scholarship package is available for four specific groups of applicants - those from a Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic background, students coming from the care system, students who are estranged from their families, and students who gain four points or more through York St John’s contextual offer scheme. These scholarships will award students £800 per year of study, and a package of support throughout their time at university.  

There will also be funding of £250 in one instalment to students with a family income of less than £25,000. 

In addition to the scholarships package, NHS funding has been reinstated by the government for specific health courses. Students on a Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Physiotherapy course are now eligible for a £5,000 training grant which does not need to be repaid, as well as other funding opportunities. Mental Health Nursing students will be eligible for £6,000 as this is a priority shortage area within the NHS. 

Matthew Taylor, Director of Marketing, Student Recruitment and Admissions at York St John University said:  

“York St John has a strong commitment to widening access to education for students who come from underrepresented backgrounds in higher education. As the country recovers from the pandemic, our new package of funding and scholarships will provide life-changing opportunities for young people who will benefit from everything that degree level education can offer.” 

To find out more about scholarships and funding at York St John University visit https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding-opportunities/scholarships-for-home-students/