Scholarships and bursaries

We are offering £1,000 cash per year (excluding placement years) to home students studying full time and paying the full tuition fee. The Access to Higher Education Scholarship is available if you are accepted onto a course with an Access to H.E. qualification (where it is an entry requirement for the course). Scholarships and Bursaries terms and conditions apply.

There is no separate application process for the Access Scholarship. Eligible students are automatically identified and contacted before they start their studies at DMU.

Eligible applicants will be contacted

The Stephen Lawrence Professional Scholarship aims to support aspiring, talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds providing a tuition fee reduction and an annual cash bursary. The scholarship was established in 2016 in honour of murdered black teenager Stephen Lawrence. You can find out more about Stephen Lawrence and his legacy by visiting DMU’s Stephen Lawrence Research Centre.

The Stephen Lawrence Professional Scholarship is specifically offered to students in year 1 (Level 4) studying one of the following courses:

• Architecture BA (Hons)
• Architectural Technology BSc (Hons)
• Criminology BA (Hons)
• Education Studies BA (Hons)
• Health and Wellbeing in Society BA (Hons)
• Journalism BA (Hons)
• Law LLB (Hons)
• Psychology BSc (Hons)

There are three scholarships available. Each scholarship provides:

• 50% off the cost of tuition fees, and
• £3,500 cash bursary each academic year

Applications for 2025/26 are now closed

The Unite Foundation Scholarship is jointly offered by De Montfort University and the Unite Foundation. The scholarship offers care leaver and estranged students a free student bedroom in Newarke Point for a maximum of three years of eligible study.

The Unite Foundation Scholarship webpage contains more information and eligibility criteria.

Students seeking asylum in the UK are not able to apply for funding from the Student Loans Company and are charged international student fees. DMU offers eight Sanctuary Scholarships for undergraduate students unable to access funding.

Please note: the Sanctuary Scholarship is only available to students looking to start an undergraduate level programme.

The Sanctuary Scholarship consists of:

• A full fee waiver for the duration of the course
• Plus up to £3,500 contribution towards living costs per year
• One Sanctuary Scholarship recipient will also be eligible for free accommodation in a DMU hall of residence for three years (subject to availability). The recipient must be under the age of 25 on 1 September 2026 to receive this element.

The Sanctuary Scholarship web page contains more information on eligibility and how to apply.

We are offering £1,000 cash per year to home students studying full time and paying the full tuition fee. The Care Leavers' Bursary is available to eligible students who come to the University directly from care.

Scholarships and Bursaries terms and conditions apply.

We are offering £1,000 cash per year to home students studying full time and paying the full tuition fee. The Estranged Students' Bursary is available to eligible students who are estranged from their family and have no other source of income.

Scholarships and Bursaries terms and conditions apply.

The Opportunities Fund is designed to help with your enhancement opportunities. This can range from supporting your learning and development or for your mental, physical or social health and wellbeing. The fund has been created from donations either from the public (many of whom are alumni) or organisations who are keen to support students. Applications are open all year round and are currently reviewed weekly, however the fund may intermittently close depending on the number of applications received.

• Find out more about the application process
• See our frequently asked questions
• Apply for the DMU Opportunities Fund

  If you have any further questions, please contact daescholarships@dmu.ac.uk.

National law firm Freeths has established a scholarship programme for law students in memory of Mukesh Patel, former Managing Partner of Freeths’ Leicester Office.

Learn more about the Mukesh Patel Scholarship.

The continuing support of The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers for the Footwear Design Programme at De Montfort University is central to its success in preparing students for their future roles in industry. The scholarship is for £3,000 per year of study.

Learn more about The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers Scholarship.

The Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons' Charity have generously funded a scholarship for students from Leicestershire and Rutland studying Footwear Design BA (Hons). The scholarship provides financial support for students from low income backgrounds though an award of £3,000 per year.

The scholarship is intended to honour historic links and reflects the Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons' commitment to supporting the craft of Footwear Design in Britain.

Learn more about the Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons' Scholarship.