For the academic year 2026-27, we have ten £5,000 master's bursary awards available for eligible students who hold a valid offer of study for September 2026 and who have been previously in receipt of a widening participation scholarship, grant or bursary during their undergraduate honours degree from a UK University.

In order to be considered for the bursary you need to:

• hold a full bachelor’s level undergraduate honours degree from a recognised UK University
• be a Home (UK) student and have received an offer to study an eligible Master's course*
• have no more than a one-year gap between finishing your undergraduate degree and starting your postgraduate degree
• have been previously in receipt of a widening participation scholarship, grant or bursary during your undergraduate honours degree from a recognised UK University

Students who hold an integrated undergraduate master's degree are not eligible to apply for the Master's Access Bursary.

As part of your application, we will ask you for a supporting statement and to indicate any widening participation criteria you meet. This may include:

• If your home address is in an area where there is a low participation of young people progressing into higher education
  
• If your home address is considered to be in an area of general disadvantage according to Indices of Multiple Deprivation
• If you or your family receive a state means-tested benefit
• If you are a care leaver
• If you are irreconcilably estranged from your parents or guardians
• If you are a Young Carer
• If you are a refugee or asylum seeker
  

We may also take into account:

• Your undergraduate degree classification
• If your gender is underrepresented in your academic department
  
• If your ethnicity is underrepresented in your academic faculty
  

*An eligible Master's course is one that leads to an MSc, MBA, MA or standalone MRes. The course can have a maximum duration of two years for a full-time course or four years for a part-time course. Part-time courses must be studied at a minimum of 50% intensity (for example, a course which would take one year if studied full-time may take up to two years if studied part-time). Distance Learning courses are not eligible for this bursary.

The number of awards are limited and this means some applications may be unsuccessful.

Application Process

To apply, you must hold a valid offer of study for an eligible master's programme* starting in September 2026. Explore our master's programmes.

Once you hold a valid offer of study, you can then complete a Master’s Access Bursary Application Form.

Once your application for a Master's Access Bursary has been submitted, please send evidence of your widening participation scholarship, grant or bursary received during your undergraduate honours degree to pgtfunding@bath.ac.uk.

This evidence should be in the form of an award letter or email from the UK University where you completed your undergraduate honours degree. It should include the name of the funding award received, the amount received and the date it was awarded. If you have any questions or concerns please get in touch: pgtfunding@bath.ac.uk

Application Deadline

Applications are open now.

The deadline for applications is 10:30am on Thursday 30 July 2026.

We recommend you read the Master's Access Bursary terms and conditions before applying. We aim to make decisions by mid-August.