Apply
This bursary has an application and selection process. See below for more details.
Applications will close at 11.59pm on 30 May 2024.
About the bursary
Thanks to a generous donation from University alumnus and Chairman of Blackpool FC, Simon Sadler, we’re able to offer a new bursary to 36 care experienced or care leaver students.
For 2024 entry, there will be 12 bursaries available for care experienced or care leaver students, that will provide support for a maximum of three years of an undergraduate degree.
If you’re selected for the bursary and successfully register at the University, you’ll be awarded £10,000 per year for the first three years of your degree.
If your course is longer than three years, you can fund additional years of study through Student Finance England or by other means.
- Care leaver: a care leaver is generally someone who has been in the care of their local authority for a period of 13 weeks or more around their 16th birthday.
- Care experienced: care experienced includes all students who can be reasonably verified as having been in care at any stage up to the age of 18 – and includes those who were adopted (from care) before the age of 18*.
*We recognise kinship care as being a significant source of care within the UK Care System, and that many young people in Kinship Care have a care order and/or are known to the Local Authority. Your local authority will need to provide a letter to evidence this in order to be eligible for the Sadler Bursary.
Eligibility criteria
Essential criteria
You’ll need to meet the following to apply:
- be a care leaver or care experienced (as per our definition above)
- be an offer holder, or have applied for an undergraduate degree, at The University of Manchester for September 2024 entry;
- be aged 24 years or under on 1 September 2024.
Priority criteria
Some students will be prioritised for this bursary if they meet all of the essential criteria.
- The average academic performance of the schools or colleges where you studied your Level 2 or 3 qualifications;
- The youth participation rates in higher education for your current home postcode using TUNDRA and POLAR;
- Your eligibility for Free School Meals in secondary or further education (this includes students who opted not to take the FSM’s, so please indicate if you were eligible);
- Home location – priority will be given to those who have experience of living in Blackpool or the north-west at any point since 1 September 2020 (see priority postcode list below);
- School / college location – priority will be given to those that have experience of studying Level 2 or Level 3 qualifications at a school or college in Blackpool or the north-west at any point since 1 September 2020.
Application process
Complete your application online
You must complete the online application form to be considered for this bursary and answers must match the information you have provided on your UCAS application form.
We’ll use your UCAS application and Student Finance England application to verify some of your answers. We may get in touch with you to clarify information at any point up to and including course registration.
Submit additional documents
As part of your application, you’ll need to upload the following documents:
- evidence of your time in care, such as a letter from your Local Authority or confirmation from Student Finance of your independent status as a care leaver;
- your Student Finance confirmation letter;
- a 400-word personal statement explaining how the Sadler Bursary will support your success at University;
- for students meeting priority criteria: evidence that you have lived in Blackpool or the north-west at any point since 1 September 2020.
Applications will close at 11:59pm in 30 May 2024.
Contact us
For any application queries, email sadlerbursary@manchester.ac.uk.
Students are able to apply for multiple bursaries / scholarships, including the Cowrie Scholarship, Article 26 Scholarship, and Raheem Sterling Scholarship (if eligible).
However, if you are successful, you will only be able to receive one bursary/scholarship.