If you have any questions about our scholarships or how to apply, check out our frequently asked questions below. If you have a specific question that isn't addressed below or need any support, please email us using our contact form. We’re here to help.
What is the difference between a scholarship and a bursary?
At Royal Holloway, bursaries are awarded automatically to students who are eligible, while scholarships are competitive awards.
How do I apply for a Royal Holloway scholarship?
You will need to hold an offer from Royal Holloway to apply for one of our scholarships. Once you have this, you will need to apply using our Applicant Portal where you will be able to copy and paste or upload your scholarship statement, as well as any other information needed to complete your application form. Remember you can apply for more than one scholarship in the same form.
If you have applied through an agent and received an offer through Study Group, please contact your agent who will advise on applying for scholarships.
What is a tuition fee reduction?
This is a reduction of the fees of your degree course. This will differ depending on whether you are an undergraduate or postgraduate, a Home or International student and what course you are studying. Scholarships can be partial fee reductions, which is a set amount paid towards your fees, or a full tuition fee reduction, which covers the whole cost. Tuition fee reductions are paid directly to Royal Holloway, rather than to you directly.
What is a cash award?
A cash award is a sum of money which is paid directly into your bank account. Scholars can use the money for any expenses but usually tend to use it towards accommodation, travel or other study costs.
Can I use my UCAS statement as my scholarship statement?
No, you will need to complete a new and different statement to apply for a scholarship. Remember to check the application guidelines on the individual scholarship webpage to make sure you are including the relevant information to be in with the best chance of being awarded the scholarship. It's really important to note the word count, as any statement which exceeds the word count is automatically rejected.
Are scholarships awarded on a first come first served basis?
No, scholarships need to be submitted by a deadline (see individual scholarship pages for details). They will only be assessed after the deadline.
Do you have a reserve list?
Yes, for many of our scholarships, we have a reserve list so if a student does not accept the scholarship, or becomes ineligible, we will offer it to the next person on the reserve list. We will notify you if you are on the reserve list.
When will I hear if I have been successful?
Check the individual scholarship webpages which will tell you when you when we will start contacting students to tell them if they have been awarded the scholarships.
What happens if I change my course after I apply?
If the scholarship is for specific course and the new course is not eligible for the award, then you would become ineligible to be considered for that particular scholarship. If the new course is also eligible for the award, then your application will be considered. You should notify RHPS@rhul.ac.uk if you change your course after being offered the scholarship. If you have already joined us as a student and change your course, your continuing eligibility for the award will be reviewed, and could be withdrawn if you no longer meet the criteria for the award. See our terms and conditions for full details.
How many scholarship applications do you receive?
This varies depending on what scholarships we have available each year. Our advice is to apply for any scholarships you are eligible for and make sure you read the application guidelines before submitting your application.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship?
Yes. You can apply for as many scholarships as you are eligible for. In most cases, you cannot hold more than one scholarship, however.
Can I have a scholarship and a bursary?
Yes. Our bursaries are awarded automatically to students who are eligible. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis, usually based on academic achievement and/or a scholarship statement. If you are automatically awarded a bursary, you may also be awarded a scholarship.
How do you decide who gets a scholarship?
Our scholarships are awarded based on your written statement and/or your predicted grades at A-level or equivalent. All applications are scored by a panel. The applications which receive the highest scores are awarded the scholarships.
If the scholarship is over three years, am I guaranteed to get the following year’s instalment?
This will depend on the scholarship. For some of our scholarships you need to maintain a 60% average to continue to receive it. Please read our terms and conditions for more information.
If I'm a Royal Holloway graduate, can I use the alumni discount if I am awarded a postgraduate scholarship?
This will depend on the scholarship you have been awarded. Our alumni discount is not available to recipients of the Principal's Masters Scholarship nor scholarships which provide a full tuition fee discount.
If the scholarship does not provide a full tuition fee discount, you can benefit from an alumni discount on tuition fees. This will be deducted after the scholarship, and any other relevant discounts including the early payment reduction, is applied.
Please see our terms and conditions and individual scholarships pages for more details.
