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Members of the Armed Forces are just as welcome at university as anyone else, and if you are looking to study at university next year, there are a number of useful military bursaries available …

Scholarships, bursaries and student grants are available for students who need them, but while everyone talks about where to get any university bursaries or grants, very few people talk about the grants, scholarships and bursaries available for those already serving in the military.

What are military bursaries?

Military bursaries are schemes designed to help students who are in the military. Money is made available for students who may have financial hardships or who are signed up under specific scholarships.

These bursaries can be subject-specific as well as circumstance-permitting. Many roles in the military will require a formal education from university, so these bursaries will be essential in your progress throughout university, although some bursaries will depend on whether or not you have passed the officer selection process.

Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS)

The Defence Technical Undergraduate Scheme (DTUS) is for Service students who are thinking of studying engineering courses, technical courses, business courses and logistics courses at university. It acts much like a feeder course for students for the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and the MoD Civil Service, and is run by the Defence Academy, which is responsible for the training of postgraduates and for general postgraduate education. Those using the DTUS will receive a bursary of £4,000 a year towards their studies and can also earn up to £2,000 a year in potential training pay on top of that.

Only a few universities are actually partnered with the DTUS, however. These are:

• Aston University 
• Birmingham City University 
• Cambridge University 
• Imperial College London 
• Loughborough University 
• Newcastle University 
• Northumbria University 
• Oxford University 
• Portsmouth University 
• Southampton University 
• Strathclyde University.

While it is possible to join the DTUS as a direct applicant, most students will have to have completed two years of study at Welbeck, the Defence Sixth Form College (DSFC).

Army Undergraduate Bursary – Standard (AUBS)

The MoD offers around 150 AUBS a year. These payments are generally broken down by the years of your course: if you are doing a typical undergraduate course you will be paid £6,000 in total throughout your course, while those studying a four-year degree will receive £7,000. These payments will be made in increments every year of your study and will eventually add up to the total amount stated above, also depending on the year that you apply. They typically break down like this:

• apply in the first year of university and you will receive £2,000 per year for three years
• apply in the second year of university and you will receive £3,000 per year for two years
• apply in the third year of university and you will receive a £6,000 lump sum.

Army Undergraduate Bursary – Enhanced (AUBE)

The AUBE is open specifically for high-performing candidates. This means that you will have to have achieved a minimum of ABB at A-level, which is the equivalent of 128 UCAS Tariff Points. You must also be on course to achieve a 2:1 degree or even higher, and will also be expected to demonstrate the qualities expected of a potential officer. If you can achieve the prerequisites for this bursary, then you will receive a bursary of up to £24,000. This is £18,000 paid throughout the duration of your course and the remaining £6,000 when you are commissioned as an officer. As for AUBS, above, how this bursary is awarded depends on when you apply.

Army Undergraduate Bursary – Technical (AUBT)

The AUBT is open to anyone who is looking in to joining any one of the technical corps. These are the Royal Signals, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, or Royal Logistic Corps. You also have to study at or apply to an Army-endorsed engineering or science degree. The value of this award is £16,000, which is divided by the number of years remaining on your studies – however, if you are in your final year, you will receive a lump sum of £16,000.

Professionally Qualified Officer (PQO)

This bursary is available to potential medical, dental, veterinary, nursing and allied health professional officers. It is one of the highest-paid bursaries available from the Army, with a maximum award of £75,000 paid in instalments during the final three years of study, with a final lump sum paid on completion of military training. You must be within three years of completing your course and are required to complete four years’ service as a minimum upon commissioning.

Royal Navy Standard and Technical Bursaries

Students who are looking at the potential of joining the Royal Marines, the Warfare, Logistics or the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy as an officer are eligible for a bursary that will entitle them to £1,500 a year. Meanwhile, students who are looking to study accredited mathematics, physics or engineering degrees at non-DTUS universities, and are looking to join the Royal Navy as an engineer officer, are entitled to £4,000 a year in payments.

With grateful thanks to Uni Compare for the information contained in this feature. To find out more, visit https://universitycompare.com