Halford Scholarship Programme application guidance

If you require these notes and the accompanying application form in an alternative format (e.g. Braille or large font) please call Financial Support on 0115 823 2071 or email us at bursaries@nottingham.ac.uk. 

Who can apply for this scheme? 

For this scheme you must meet the following basic criteria:

• Be hoping to enrol in the 2024/25 academic year for the first year of a full time undergraduate degree at the University of Nottingham (UK Campus) and indicate the University of Nottingham as your first choice university
• Be studying for your first undergraduate degree
• Have Home funding status (see definition below)
• Have a 2022/23 household income between £0-£35,000, as assessed by Student Finance (see definition below)
• Not be receiving NHS funding for your course
• Not be receiving other substantial sponsorship or scholarship support for your course (University Core Bursaries and government grants do not affect your eligibility) 

In addition, you must meet the following main criteria:

• Faced and/or overcome significant hardship or obstacles to your academic progression 
• Have a strong academic ability indicating that you are likely to achieve a first or upper second class (2:1) degree
• Be able to show the beneficial impact the award will have on your time at university 

Scholarship Information

Nottingham alumnus Andrew Halford has generously established this major award for undergraduate students entering the university from September 2016. Andrew is an Industrial Economic graduate (1980).

In 2024 the Award offers financial support of £7,500 per year over the ordinary duration of their course to one academically able student. The student is one who aspires to a university education despite circumstances which would ordinarily prevent them from achieving this.

Each scholarship provides between £22,500-£37,500 to the successful applicant, depending on their course duration. 

Academic expectations

Successful candidates will be expected to provide an annual update on their progress and the impact the scholarship has made which will be shared with the scholarship donor.

Scholars also agree to their academic marks being reviewed to check they are progressing with their studies.

What are “significant hardship or obstacles to progression”? 

Examples of significant hardship or obstacles to progression include (but are not limited to) the following: 

• Disability, serious long-term medical condition or incidences of serious health problems 
• Significant caring responsibilities 
• Victim of domestic violence or abuse 
• Physical or mental trauma which has had a long lasting impact 
• Serious difficulties arising from extreme financial hardship (for example, loss of the family home)

What evidence of significant hardship or obstacles to progression am I required to provide? 

The evidence necessary to confirm your significant hardship or obstacles to progression will depend on your own situation. We appreciate the potentially highly sensitive nature of this information and only require you to provide the minimal amount of evidence necessary to confirm you meet this criterion.

Acceptable evidence includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

• Medical evidence, such as a copy of a hospital letter which makes clear the nature of your condition, or a letter from a doctor specifying details of your condition 
• Official documentation relating to your circumstances or condition
• In the absence of other evidence, a letter from a person who knows you in their professional capacity (e.g. a teacher or social worker) who is familiar with your circumstances detailing those circumstances is acceptable

If you are unsure how best to evidence your situation please feel free to contact us to discuss this in confidence.

What evidence do I need to provide to demonstrate that I have “a strong academic ability indicating that [I am] likely to achieve a first or upper second class degree”? 

You should email us with an academic reference from your school or college tutor, on appropriate headed paper, to support your application. This document must be signed by the teacher or tutor.

What should be included in your “Supporting Statement”? 

In your supporting statement, you should detail what difference, if successful, this award would make to you. You should consider its potential impact on your situation, both financially and in other ways, such as your personal and academic circumstances. 

What is a “Home Student”?

Your student finance company (i.e. Student Finance England, Wales, Northern Ireland or the SAAS) will decide your residency status. To be classed as a ‘Home’ student you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the three-year period prior to the start of your course. Students granted refugee status and European migrant workers may also be eligible.

If you are unsure of your status contact the student finance company for further information.

What is “Household Income”?  

The “Household Income” in this context is the figure calculated by Student Finance when you apply for your government support funding (for example, student loans and grants). It is the gross income of all those in your household (e.g. your parent/s or your partner) during the 2022/23 tax year (6th April 2022—6th April 2023), before tax and national insurance deductions but minus a few allowable deductions.

More information is available on the UK government website. 

How will the Award be paid? 

If successful, your total award of £7,500 will be paid each year over the expected duration of your undergraduate course: i.e. a total of £22,550 for three-year courses, £30,000 for four-year courses or £37,500 for five-year courses, subject to satisfactory academic progression.

Each annual payment will be divided into 3 termly instalments, subject to you still being registered at the time of payment. 

When is the closing date and when will I know if I’ve been made an award? 

The closing date for this scholarship is 17 May 2024. Applications will be considered once the closing date has passed. All applicants will be informed by email (to the account provided during your application) of the outcome of their application within 4 weeks of the closing date.

Successful candidates will receive a provisional notice of an award on the condition that:

• they receive an offer to study at the university
• they meet the conditions of that offer
• they register on the course in the 2024/25 academic year
• they still meet the eligibility criteria at that time
• the household income figure provided by Student Finance is between £0-£35,000

The University of Nottingham’s safeguarding responsibilities

The University of Nottingham has a responsibility to comply with legislation regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and will consult with local relevant bodies if it feels that the welfare of an individual is at risk. The information provided in this application will be treated confidentially, but in making an application you accept that you understand the university’s policy on safeguarding. More details about the university’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found on our website. 

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

The University of Nottingham is focused on embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion in all that we do. As part of this, we seek to reward and recognise our diverse staff and student population, and therefore encourage applications from all communities, particularly those with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please see our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion webpages.

If you have any questions about your application in relation to EDI issues, or you have any questions about the completion of the application form, then please contact the Funding and Financial Support Team. 

How to appeal 

All applications to funds administered by the Funding and Financial Support team are assessed according to agreed guidelines.

If you are unsatisfied with the outcome of your application you should initially contact the team to discuss your concerns.

If after an explanation of the assessment, you believe there has been an error or procedural inconsistency you can ask for the outcome to be reviewed by emailing the Funding Manager, detailing the basis of your appeal. Please send your email to john.hudson@nottingham.ac.uk and copy in financialsupport@nottingham.ac.uk. 

Appeals must be lodged within 2 weeks of the date of the email notifying you of the initial outcome. You will be contacted within 7 working days of receipt of the appeal with confirmation of the outcome. 

Please note that this appeals process specifically relates to the outcome of a particular funding application. It provides a process by which to question that outcome in the context of the relevant criteria and assessment guidelines. The Funding and Financial Support Management’s decision on such appeals is final. Where wider issues or questions are raised, these will be dealt with in accordance with the appropriate university procedure or policy.  

Further details can also be found on our website.

More information 

If you have any questions about completing this application form or want more information about any area of student support funding then please contact us. We can provide information and advice on all aspects of student finance including government and university student support funds. 

Financial Support Team contact details: Tel: 0115 823 2071 

Email: bursaries@nottingham.ac.uk

Website: www.nottingham.ac.uk/financialsupport 

You can also find information on the comprehensive range of support services offered by the University of Nottingham at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/studentservices