Student Participation Grant 2026/27-CLOSED

About the project

The Participation Grant will be available during the 2026/27 academic year to remove financial barriers students face in taking part in sport and joining student societies that enhance their time at Edinburgh. The Participation Grant is now closed for applications for semester one of the 2026/27 academic year. The next round of applications will open in semester two. We are currently experiencing high volumes of applications to the Participation Grant. We aim to process applications as quickly as possible, however please be advised that there may be some delays.

About this fund

Each applicant will receive up to £300 , this will ensure that you have funding to assist with travel, equipment, and any costs of participation in your chosen EUSA society or sports club , including university gym membership . Only one application and one payment are allowed per student during each semester, even if the applications are for less than £300 combined. The fund opens on a first come first serve basis until all funds are exhausted for the semester. The fund is available at the start of semester one and reopens at the start of semester two.

Funds are available for costs you will occur during the current semester and cannot be backdated.

Students are welcome to apply to the fund in both semester one and semester two. However, the fund cannot award to costs in semester two that were claimed for in semester one (for example if you applied for membership to the tennis club in semester one and were awarded, you cannot apply again for tennis club membership in semester two).

Eligibility

We welcome applications from fully matriculated students who meet one or more of the below criteria:

• an undergraduate student who: is in receipt of a University widening participation scholarship - the University of Edinburgh Scholarship, the University of Edinburgh Scotland Scholarship, the Access Edinburgh Scholarship has a registered disability is a student carer is a student parent is a care leaver or estranged student is an Asylum Seeker or a student with Refugee status
• is in receipt of a University widening participation scholarship - the University of Edinburgh Scholarship, the University of Edinburgh Scotland Scholarship, the Access Edinburgh Scholarship
• has a registered disability
• is a student carer
• is a student parent
• is a care leaver or estranged student
• is an Asylum Seeker or a student with Refugee status
• a postgraduate student who meets one or more of the following criteria: Personal circumstances: is a student carer is a student parent is an Asylum Seeker or a student with Refugee status is a care leaver or estranged student (at the point of UG study) and were therefore assessed as care experienced or estranged by their funding body at UG study. Has a registered disability. Financial identifiers: Is accessing Universal Credit or is in receipt of a carer support payment or Scottish Child payment (you will be asked to submit evidence of this) Those who had received the University of Edinburgh Access Edinburgh Scholarship at UG level.
• is a student carer
• is a student parent
• is an Asylum Seeker or a student with Refugee status
• is a care leaver or estranged student (at the point of UG study) and were therefore assessed as care experienced or estranged by their funding body at UG study.
• Has a registered disability.
• Is accessing Universal Credit or is in receipt of a carer support payment or Scottish Child payment (you will be asked to submit evidence of this)
• Those who had received the University of Edinburgh Access Edinburgh Scholarship at UG level.

How you will be paid

If your application is successful, these funds have been will be credited to your University of Edinburgh Aspire account. You will receive a separate email with your login details. If you can't find this email, enter your email address on the Login page, and click ‘Forgot Password’.

Aspire will have already created an account using your email address, you do not need to create a new account.

For instructions on how to withdraw your funds into your bank account please click here.

If you have any queries, please head to the UOE Aspire Help and Support page or contact Aspire here .

Overseas bank accounts

We are unable to make payments to overseas bank accounts. You must set up a UK bank account before applying to the fund.

Learn about your options for opening your first student bank account in the UK and banking safety:

Opening a UK bank account

Application- Now Closed until Semester two.

Apply here (Application currently closed)

Why was my application rejected?

To ensure the limited funds go to those most in need, we may reject applications if:

• you apply for funding for non-university societies or sports unions
• you are not a full-time student
• you are currently studying away from the University; the fund is for those who are currently studying on campus
• you have not provided the appropriate evidence required to process your application
• you have applied for medical costs
• you do not meet the eligibility criteria as noted above

Scholarships and Student Funding Team

University of Edinburgh

Contact details

• Work: +44 (0)131 651 4070
• Email: studentfunding@ed.ac.uk
• Web: Contact Form

Availability

This article was published on Monday 29 July 2024

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