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Department of Sociology
Cricket field with views of Durham Cathedral and castle behind

Tree with money

Funding

We are committed to supporting the best students irrespective of financial circumstances. We have an offering of scholarships and bursaries either funded by the University, through partnerships with external organisations, or through generous donations from alumni and friends of the University.

The scholarships, awards and bursaries are dedicated to supporting students from countries around the world. Other options for funding your studies may also be available.

Find out more about Postgraduate Scholarships available at Durham.

Current Department-specific scholarships are listed below.

Ruth First Scholarship

The Ruth First Scholarship is available to applicants from southern Africa to take a one-year taught Masters course at Durham University. It covers tuition fees, maintenance, visa fees and travel. It is particularly targeted at people who have played a leading role in community, charitable or voluntary work.

Further information and the application form can be found here

The application deadline is 31 March 2025

Hatfield Lioness Postgraduate Scholarship 2025-26

The aim of the Hatfield Lioness Scholarship is to enable a female student from a developing country, where access to tertiary education is limited, to benefit from undertaking postgraduate study at Durham University. 

NHSBSA Social Work Bursaries

We have a limited number of NHSBSA Social Work Bursaries available to eligible students confirming a place on Master of Social Work (MSW).

The NHSBSA Social Work Bursary: 

  • can help with study and living costs 
  • is a grant not a loan 
  • gets paid into your bank account at the start of each term, if you are eligible 
  • is only available to students who meet the course and residency criteria 
  • is subject to capping, so the number of students who can receive a bursary is limited 
  • must be applied for each academic year 

Find out how much you may be eligible for as a Social Work student and how to apply: NHSBSA Bursary 

Please note, the number of NHSBSA social work bursaries are capped each year and these are normally allocated on a first-come-first-served basis to applicants firmly accepting offers for the coming year. 

Fees and Funding 

Annual MSW fee = £8500 

Fees can be paid through a combination of bursaries and scholarships: 

  • NHSBSA tuition fee bursary = £4052  
  • Durham University Tuition Scholarship = £1086 
  • A minimum basic grant paid directly to the student = £3362.50*

*Note: NHSBSA bursary holders may also be entitled to additional means-tested grants. 

Students who are eligible for a social work bursary from Durham University are not eligible to apply for a postgraduate loan, however alternative funding options are available. 

To find out about availability of the NHSBSA bursary, please contact the admissions tutor via msw.office@durham.ac.uk