Private School Bursaries and Scholarships in the UK: What Parents Need to Know

Independent schools in the UK offer two main types of financial support: bursaries, which are means-tested grants based on family income, and scholarships, awarded on academic, artistic, sporting or other merit. The two are often combined, and some schools offer bursaries covering 100 per cent of fees for families who qualify financially.

What is a bursary?

A bursary is a means-tested financial award from an independent school that reduces — sometimes eliminates — the fees a family pays. The amount is calculated by the school itself after a detailed assessment of the family's financial circumstances, including household income, savings, assets, property equity and significant outgoings.

There is no national standard for bursaries. Every independent school sets its own eligibility criteria, its own assessment process and its own maximum award. The result is a wide range in practice: some schools offer bursaries up to 100 per cent of fees for families on very low incomes; others have smaller funds and may only offer partial reductions even to families with modest incomes.

Bursaries are not loans. They do not need to be repaid. They are awarded for a set period — usually one academic year — and reviewed annually based on updated financial information.

What is a scholarship?

A scholarship is a merit-based award given to pupils who demonstrate exceptional ability in a specific area — most commonly academic work, music, art, drama or sport. Scholarships are awarded by the school following an assessment process such as a written test, audition, portfolio review or sporting trial.

Unlike bursaries, scholarships are not means-tested. A family on a high income can receive a scholarship if their child performs outstandingly in the assessment.

In practice, the monetary value of many scholarships is more modest than families expect. Academic or music scholarships at day schools often cover between 5 and 20 per cent of fees, and some schools describe them as "honorary" — a mark of distinction with a token reduction rather than a significant financial contribution. Boarding schools and schools with large endowments tend to offer higher scholarship percentages.

Crucially, a scholarship can be combined with a bursary. A family whose child wins an academic scholarship can apply separately for means-tested bursary support; if they qualify, both awards can be applied to the fee account. This combination is often how independent schools achieve meaningful affordability for talented pupils from lower-income families.

How are bursaries assessed?

The assessment process is thorough. Schools typically ask families to complete a detailed financial questionnaire and submit supporting documents including payslips, P60 forms, tax returns or accounts (for the self-employed), recent bank statements, and details of savings, investments or property.

Schools also consider assets: equity in the family home, pension values and significant savings can all affect the bursary award, even if household income appears modest. A small number of schools conduct a home visit as part of the assessment, though this practice is less common than it once was.

As a rough illustration of how income levels might relate to bursary percentages — bearing in mind that every school is different — the following gives a sense of the range:

Annual household income | Illustrative bursary level
Up to £25,000 | Up to 100% of fees (at schools with sufficient endowment)
£25,001–£40,000 | 60–90% reduction (varies widely by school)
£40,001–£60,000 | 30–60% reduction
£60,001–£80,000 | 10–30% reduction
Over £80,000 | Unlikely to qualify at most schools

These figures are illustrative only. Schools with larger endowments can be significantly more generous; schools with limited bursary funds will apply stricter thresholds. Some highly endowed schools — such as Christ's Hospital, which was specifically founded to educate pupils from low-income families — award near-full-fee bursaries to the majority of their pupils as a core part of their charitable mission.

It is also worth noting that since September 2025, VAT at 20 per cent applies to independent school fees in England. This has increased the effective cost of private schooling, which makes bursary support even more significant for families on moderate incomes.

What does a scholarship typically cover?

The range is wide. Some scholarships are purely honorary, carrying a small financial reduction (perhaps 5 per cent) and a formal distinction on school records. Others at well-funded schools can reach 50 per cent or more of fees.

Beyond money, a scholarship can offer:

Recognition. Being named a scholar carries genuine prestige within the school and can be listed on personal statements and CVs.

Enrichment. Many schools offer scholars access to additional masterclasses, visiting speaker programmes or specialist workshops.

Expectation. Scholars may be expected to maintain a certain level of academic or extracurricular engagement to retain the award.

As with bursaries, scholarship awards are typically reviewed at key transition points — for example, from Year 9 to Year 10 — and can in some cases be reduced if a pupil's performance falls substantially below the standard expected at the time of the award.

How to find and apply for bursaries and scholarships

The starting point is the school's own website. Most independent schools have a dedicated "Fees and Finance" or "Bursaries and Scholarships" page that explains the awards available, the assessment process and the deadlines.

Key steps for families:

Identify target schools. The Independent Schools Council (ISC) website and the Good Schools Guide list schools by region, academic profile and ethos.

Check deadlines early. Bursary and scholarship applications often close months before a child's proposed entry date. For Year 7 entry, deadlines may fall as early as the preceding October or November.

Register with the school. Most schools require a registration form and fee before any admissions or scholarship assessment can begin.

Complete the financial assessment form honestly. Schools appreciate candour. Discrepancies discovered later may result in a lower award or withdrawal.

Apply simultaneously for scholarships where applicable. A child can sit a scholarship assessment while the family's bursary application is under review.

Common entry points for bursary and scholarship applications are age 11 (Year 7 entry), age 13 (Year 9 entry, common for pupils moving from prep schools) and age 16 (sixth-form entry).

What to expect during a scholarship assessment

The format varies significantly by subject area:

Academic scholarships: Written papers covering subjects such as verbal and non-verbal reasoning, English and Mathematics, followed by an interview with senior teachers.

Music scholarships: Performance on one or two instruments, sight-reading and sometimes an aural test or short interview.

Art scholarships: Portfolio submission and a supervised session where candidates produce new work on a given theme.

Sports scholarships: A trial or observation session, sometimes supplemented by a report from the child's current school or coach.

Drama scholarships: Performance pieces, cold reading exercises or improvisation tasks.

Schools typically communicate the outcome of scholarship assessments within a few weeks. If a child is awarded a scholarship but not the level of bursary support needed to make fees genuinely affordable, it is entirely reasonable to write to the bursar and ask whether any additional financial assistance is available. Many schools expect and welcome this conversation.

Frequently asked questions

What income level qualifies for a private school bursary?

There is no universal income threshold. Each school sets its own criteria. As a general guide, families with household incomes below £25,000–£30,000 tend to receive the highest award levels at well-endowed schools, while families earning above £80,000–£100,000 are unlikely to qualify at most institutions. Assets — including property equity and savings — are assessed alongside income. The only way to know whether your family qualifies is to submit a formal application to the school.

Can a child receive both a bursary and a scholarship?

Yes. Bursaries and scholarships are assessed through entirely separate processes and can be combined. A child might win a 10 per cent academic scholarship on merit; the family might separately qualify for a 50 per cent bursary on financial grounds — bringing the total fee reduction to 60 per cent. Schools actively encourage this combination as a way to make places accessible to talented pupils from less affluent backgrounds.

At what age should parents start applying?

For the most common entry points — Year 7 at age 11 and Year 9 at age 13 — applications should ideally begin one to two years before the proposed entry date. Deadlines for bursary and scholarship assessments often fall in the autumn or winter of the year before entry. For Year 7 entry in September 2027, for example, families should be making contact with schools and preparing financial documents during 2026. For sixth-form entry, deadlines are typically in January or February before the September start.

Do bursaries get reviewed each year?

Yes. Bursary awards are almost always reviewed annually. Families must resubmit updated financial information each year, and the award amount may increase or decrease depending on changes in income or circumstances. If a family's financial position improves significantly — for example, following a promotion or an inheritance — the bursary may be reduced or removed. Schools do not generally make permanent guarantees for the length of a child's education, so families should plan on the basis that the award is renewable annually rather than fixed for the full course.

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