Frequently asked questions 

Who is eligible to apply for a bursary? 
The scheme is open to current full-time undergraduate students of The University of Manchester across all Faculties and academic Schools. This includes UK/EU and international students. 

I am a postgraduate student. Can I still apply? 
Unfortunately not. The scheme is only open to current undergraduate students as detailed above. 

I am a final-year student and will be graduating in the summer of 2025. Can I apply for a bursary? 
Yes, but the opportunity you are undertaking must be completed by the end of June 2025. 

Which opportunities are eligible? 
The Trusted Partners Bursary is specifically for overseas volunteering opportunities with the University's Trusted Partners. Internships, work experience, electives or other activities with the Trusted Partners are not eligible for the bursary. 

We encourage applications to the bursary for projects lasting four weeks or more. If you are planning on undertaking an overseas volunteering opportunity with one of our Trusted Partners for a shorter period and would like to apply for the Trusted Partners Bursary, please contact us at volunteers@manchester.ac.uk. 

Can I use the bursary towards my placement year/semester? 
No. The overseas volunteering must not form an official part of your degree course. 

Can I use the bursary whilst completing an intercalation year? 
No. The overseas volunteering cannot be used in conjunction with an intercalation year. 

Can I apply/use the bursary whilst I have interrupted my studies? 
No. The overseas volunteering cannot be used if you have interrupted your studies. 
 
I will be undertaking an elective as part of my medicine/dentistry course. Can I apply? 
No. As above, the overseas volunteering must not form part of your degree course. This is regardless of the elective being carried out during term time or the vacation period, either in the UK or abroad. 
 
My course has introduced a short work experience style placement. Does this qualify for a bursary? 
Unfortunately not. Again, the overseas volunteering must not form an official part of your degree whether taken during term time or vacation period.

What can the bursary cover? 
The bursary can fund travel costs (i.e. flights) or accommodation costs or a combination of the two for overseas volunteering opportunities with the University’s Trusted Partners. It cannot cover the cost of food, clothing, travel visas, vaccinations, travel insurance or other incidental expenditures or living costs such as utility bills. Please note that we also provide support to those students who may incur related care costs. 

We are aware that Trusted Partners might advertise 'project costs’, which may include accommodation. Each Trusted Partner will be able to provide a breakdown to show the accommodation costs. 

Why are there different levels of funding? 
The scheme has two separate funding streams. One is open to students currently in receipt of a bursary from the University and/or the full non-repayable financial grant from the UK Government.  

The second funding stream is open to all students regardless of financial background. In this case, the funding has been calculated as a relevant proportion of the project and flight costs for that specific project.  

The bursary only covers part of the total cost, how should I raise the rest of the funds? 
We encourage all students who are planning on volunteering overseas to fundraise to cover the costs. This engages volunteers with the cause and is an important aspect of preparing to volunteer abroad. Whilst fundraising can seem daunting, there is lots of support available to you from the University and each Trusted Partner.  

Please see our Project Costs and Fundraising page for more information. 

Can I apply for other pots of funding at The University of Manchester alongside this one for the same opportunity? 
There are other pots of funding available at the University including the Work Experience Bursary and the Travel Awards. 

If you apply to the Trusted Partners Bursary you will not be eligible to apply for the Work Experience Bursary for the same opportunity. However, you can still apply to the Work Experience Bursary for other unrelated activities, please see the Work Experience Bursary webpages for more information. 

If you apply to the Trusted Partners Bursary, you may also be able to apply to the Travel Awards. Please check the terms of the Travel Awards applications for more information.

My overseas volunteering is taking place over the Christmas/Easter holidays rather than summer. Can I still apply? 
Yes. The only restriction is that your overseas volunteering must be completed before September 2025 for non-final year students. For final years, your overseas volunteering must be completed before June 2025. 

I have already completed my overseas volunteering Can I still apply for a bursary retrospectively? 
No. Retrospective applications will not be accepted. 

I have been offered a place on a project with a Trusted Partner, which will be confirmed when I pay the registration fee. Can I make an application to the bursary before I pay the registration fee? 
Yes. All applicants must have been offered a place on a project with a Trusted Partner prior to applying to this bursary. However, this can be an offer in principle, for example, if you need to seek funding prior to confirming your place. 

I have arranged an opportunity for 2026. Can I apply for a bursary now? 
No. All applications must relate to overseas volunteering that is scheduled to take place before the end of September 2025 unless you are a final-year student whose opportunity must be completed by the end of June 2025.

Is there anything that I will be expected to do before, during, or on return from the project? Yes, we ask that you undertake a number of actions to ensure you are fully prepared and to keep yourself safe and well overseas. Find the full requirements here.

Who makes the decision on my application? 
A bursary panel decides based on the strength of the information provided in your application. Make sure that you submit a strong application and include all the necessary documents such as your CV and proof of the overseas volunteering offer. 

What are the closing dates for the scheme? 
The bursary scheme runs until the funding has been exhausted or until mid-June 2025, whichever point is reached first. Within this period, we operate fortnightly deadlines. Applications are then considered for each fortnightly submission round. 
 
Why does the scheme close at the start of summer when most overseas volunteering projects occur? 
Our funding is bound by the University's financial year cycle, which ends in June. For most overseas volunteering projects, you will be expected to secure your place, organise flights, and pay some project costs well in advance of departure. 

How do I provide proof of my overseas volunteering? 
A copy of the confirmation of your place on the project including the dates and location of your overseas volunteering is often sufficient. The more information you provide at this stage the easier you make it for the bursary panel to decide.

If my application is approved how quickly will I receive the funds? 
Once you have accepted the terms and conditions of the scheme, please allow up to four weeks for the funds to reach your account although we aim to complete this process much quicker. The team will advise you in greater detail about the timescales involved via email if you are successful. 

What evidence do you need to confirm how I have used my bursary? 
At the end of your overseas volunteering, you will need to submit receipts to prove your travel and/or your accommodation expenditure for the total amount awarded to you. Failure to do so will mean that you will have to repay the bursary money.  

What happens if my expenses are lower than I originally anticipated? 
Any unspent funds will need to be refunded to us. Students will be contacted with more information on how to do this.

Please email volunteers@manchester.ac.uk