Bursaries, financial support and living costs

• At least 5 Emily Ward Bursary awards of £10,000 for each year of study for the duration of the three-year course.

Eligibility: New first-year students (UK and international) with a household income of £42,875 or less. Preference will be given to students who meet one or more of the Widening Participation criteria below.

• At least 6 partial Emily Ward Bursary awards of £5,000 for each year of study for the duration of the three-year course.

Eligibility: New first-year students (UK and international). Preference will be given to lower income households and students who meet one or more of the Widening Participation criteria below. Students who are successfully awarded the Emily Ward Bursary of £10,000 will not be eligible for a partial award.

All Emily Ward Bursary recipients will also benefit from the Emily Ward enrichment programme alongside our student support package.

At least 10 Emily Ward Uniform Bursary awards of £500 as a one-off contribution towards the cost of purchasing the Norland uniform in the first year of study only.

Eligibility: Open to all new first-year students (UK and international). Preference will be given to lower income households and students who meet one or more of the Widening Participation criteria below.

All bursaries are means-tested. Additional consideration is given to applicants who meet one or more of our Widening Participation criteria as follows:

• your home address is in an area where there is a low participation of young people progressing into higher education, as measured by the OfS (UK residents only).
• your home address is considered to be in an area of general disadvantage according to Indices of Multiple Deprivation (UK residents only).
• you, your partner or a parent or guardian receive a UK state means-tested benefit, including Child Tax Credits, Working Tax Credits, Housing Benefits, Council Tax Benefits, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments, Income Support or Income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credits, Universal Credits etc.
• you are care experienced, a care leaver or Foyer resident – you have experienced care, are a care leaver or have lived in a Foyer before starting at Norland, or are supported by a local authority Leaving Care Service and fulfil the criteria as stated in the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000: A young person aged 16-25 years old who has been ‘looked after’ for at least 13 weeks by a local authority at some point since they were 14 years old, and were in care on or after their sixteenth birthday.
• you are irreconcilably estranged from your parents or guardians.
• you are a young adult carer – aged between 18 and 25 and look after a relative or friend of any age due to disability, chronic or terminal illness, mental health problems, alcohol or drug addiction/dependency, and are aged 25 years or under at the start of the course.
• you are a refugee or asylum seeker.
• you are of male or non-binary gender.
• you are of under-represented ethnicity.
• you are a mature student aged 25 years or over at the start of the course.

The deadline for bursary applications to be submitted for 2024 entry is Friday 1 April 2024.

You must have already been offered a place (conditional or unconditional) to study at Norland in order to apply for a bursary. Offer-holders can apply to all three bursaries as long as they meet eligibility requirements. All bursaries are dependent on the completion of an application form, which is considered by the Norland Bursary Committee.

If you are offered a place on our course, whether conditional or unconditional, bursary information and application details will be sent to you. Bursary applicants will be notified as soon as possible after a decision has been made, usually by the end of May.

If successful, the Emily Ward Bursary will be awarded for the entire duration of the three–year course, subject to the successful completion of each year. The Uniform Bursary is a one-off contribution in the first year of study only.

There is a different process for applying for student finance if you are from Scotland (visit the Student Awards Agency Scotland), Wales (visit Student Finance Wales) or Northern Ireland (visit Student Finance NI).

The Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch is an educational charity working in Bath and District (postcode BA), whose aim is to promote understanding and development of the Commonwealth of Nations. This scholarship is available to support students from overseas Commonwealth countries to assist them with the costs of their studies and training at Norland.

The scholarship provides a one-off grant of up to £500.

The scholarship is open to successful applicants:

• whose main place of residence is in an overseas Commonwealth country
• who have accepted the offer of a place and enrolled at Norland
• who can demonstrate that they support and give back to their overseas Commonwealth community.

How to apply

Applicants are required to:

1. Complete the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch Scholarship application form.
2. Write a short essay to demonstrate how the Norland integrated degree and diploma course will benefit the community in their country of residence and their future career (no more than 500 words).
3. Return the application form and short essay to the Norland finance team at [email protected].

The deadline for scholarship applications for 2023 entry is Monday 2 October 2023.

Applicants whose main place of residence is in an overseas Commonwealth country will be sent an application form. The selection of scholarship recipients will be decided by a panel of representatives from the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch and Norland.

Successful applicants will be required to acknowledge the support provided by the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch Scholarship and to provide a short report on their studies and training and the benefit provided to their community by the Scholarship. It is a condition of the scholarship that recipients will be publicised on the Norland website, social media and in the media and will be expected to provide appropriate feedback to support this. They are also encouraged to interact with the Royal Commonwealth Society, Bath and District Branch membership at meetings and events.

UKCISA (the UK Council for International Student Affairs) provides a range of information and advice for prospective and current international students, including immigration, fees, student support and living in the UK.

Finder and Studee also provide useful funding information for international students.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides grants to US students from military families.

In previous years, Norland students have successfully obtained grants and bursaries through scholarships or awards via their local councils, organisations that they may have volunteered with, through links with past employers, or through community funding.

Many students work whilst at Norland and during the holiday periods. There is a strong demand for Norland students to provide childcare duties. We support students to find nannying and babysitting jobs through our Job Shop and our partnership with the Marvellous Babysitting app. Students also work within childcare settings in ski resorts, hotels, summer sun holiday destinations and cruise ships. However, it should be acknowledged that the Norland course is demanding, and home study expectations are high, therefore caution should be exercised to ensure any work commitments do not affect your studies.

All students have the opportunity to work for Norland, creating a valuable source of student income. We employ Student Charity Reps, Student Librarians, Student Brand Ambassadors as well as Staff and Student Liaison Committee (SSLC) members. These vital posts give students the opportunity to play an important role within Norland, supporting fellow students, Norland initiatives and enabling effective communication between staff and the student body. All students are encouraged to get involved.

In 2022/23, we surveyed our students about their part-time and holiday work:

• 84% worked during term time, mostly in babysitting or nannying roles.
• While the hourly rates for jobs varied, the average hourly rate was £11 for babysitting and nannying work during term time. Students worked on average around 12 hours per week in these roles.
• 94% worked during the holidays, mostly in childcare roles.
• The average holiday hourly rate was £10.50 for babysitting and nannying. Students worked anywhere between a few hours each week up to full-time work throughout the holiday period. Students worked in locations across the UK as well as overseas in Greece, Switzerland, South Africa, France, Spain and the US.

Please note: international visa students have no working rights in the UK while Norland is a probationary sponsor. This means visa students can’t work while studying. This includes all formal working arrangements including all ‘non paid’ formal volunteering arrangements.

Some students choose to defer their course start date by a year or more to allow additional time to finalise financial arrangements. Please contact us if you would be interested in this option by emailing [email protected]

The Norland Finance team are committed to making a Norland education as accessible as possible to all of our prospective and current students. For supportive, practical help and advice regarding financing your course, whether as a future or current student, you are strongly encouraged to contact our approachable Finance team via email at [email protected]

Blackbullion provides help with financial planning and money skills for students and Money Helper offers general financial guidance. The living costs and budgeting section below provides additional advice and links to further guidance.

Accommodation costs will vary dependent on a number of factors so it is worth doing your research. Some students who live near to Bath save money on accommodation and other living costs by living at home and commuting each day. Other students choose to live-in with a family to save on accommodation and bills in return for free childcare. Don’t forget to factor in utility bills and travel costs when choosing your accommodation as these will vary by property.

Energy Saving Trust have compiled a list of helpful tips for saving money on gas and electricity. The British Gas Energy Trust is an independent charity set up to support people who are struggling to pay their bills and provides useful advice on managing money and energy bills. Money Saving Expert has advice on how to negotiate your broadband deal. Shop around for the best phone deal and ask for a student discount on mobile phone contracts or use a student sim card.

Cooking at home and batch cooking is much cheaper than eating out. At Norland you will learn to cook, so hone your cooking skills and save money. Consider taking it in turns with your housemates and classmates to bulk buy and share meals. Shop around for the best deals, buy own brands, buy tinned or frozen food, shop seasonally and share delivery costs with housemates. Reduce food waste and overspending by checking what you already have and write a list of what you need. Never go shopping while you’re hungry. Check out Money Saving Expert’s supermarket shopping tips for more ways to save on food bills.

Many shops and restaurants in Bath, and around the UK, offer student discounts. The paid-for TOTUM student card offers a wide range of student discounts. Also have a look at TOTUM Digital, which is free and offers a limited range of discounts. Money Saving Expert’s student checklist offers over 50 quick tips to access discounts and save cash.

Travel costs vary considerably, depending on whether you are commuting to campus or travelling home regularly. By purchasing a student railcard, you’ll get a third off train travel. Another way to cut the cost of your train travel is to split the ticket, by buying separate tickets for sections of the journey. Money Saving Expert explains how to find hidden fares and split tickets. The Megabus offers good value journeys around the UK, with further discounts for TOTUM student card holders. The First Bus service in Bath offers student fares to help with the cost of travelling around the city and you can buy a weekly, monthly or yearly pass depending on your requirements. While cars are a very convenient way of travelling, the fuel and running costs will eat into your budget. There is no parking at Norland and parking in Bath is extremely limited and can be very costly. We strongly recommend you do not bring your car with you.