Community Bursaries

The College is keen to encourage students to return to College accommodation in their second, third or final year. We appreciate that returning students contribute greatly to our ideal of maintaining a balanced residential College community. We are keen to ensure that any student who wishes to live back in College during their second, third or final year should be able to do so, and that the cost of College accommodation should not prove prohibitive.

For the 2025/26 academic year we will be offering up to eight St Chad’s College Community Bursaries worth £1000 each to members of College who return to live in College accommodation in their second, third or final year of undergraduate study.

In order to be eligible for this bursary you must:

  • Be entering the second, third or final year of your academic programme in 2025/26;
  • Apply to live in College for the 2025/26 academic year by entering the College Room Ballot as advised via email;
  • Be able to demonstrate that you have made, and will continue to make, a positive contribution to our College community through involvement in JCR activities; sports; arts, drama, and music; volunteering; outreach, and other areas;
  • Be able to demonstrate financial need.

HOW TO APPLY

In order to apply for a Community Bursary, please submit the following by the deadline to Susan Mather (Academic Office Administrator), via email to susan.mather@durham.ac.uk:

  • A letter of application explaining why you are a deserving candidate for this bursary. Your letter should include information about your previous involvement in College life and anticipated contribution in the future.
  • A statement of no more than 250 words outlining your financial situation including how you fund your studies, the level of support you receive from a student loan company (if applicable), and the impact that a Community Bursary would have for you.

For 2025/26 Community Bursary applications, the deadline will be published via email in relation to the Room Ballot for 2025/26.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their bursary as soon as possible.

The College will select eight applicants to receive a Community Bursary with a reserve list of a further three students. If any of the eight selected students withdraw from the Room Ballot, the Bursary will pass to the next person on the reserve list. While second year students are welcome to apply, priority may well be given to final year students.