Bereavement Scholarship

A bereavement scholarship is a sort of financial aid or grant given to people who have lost a family member or other close relative.

Universities, schools, charitable organizations, and foundations frequently provide these scholarships to support students who are coping with the financial and emotional hardships that come after a family member’s death.

Tuition, books, fees, and perhaps even living expenses can all be paid for with the help of bereavement scholarships.

These scholarships are designed to lessen some of the financial pressure that may develop after the passing of a parent, guardian, sibling, or spouse, thus facilitating the student’s ability to continue their education without experiencing undue financial strain.

Depending on the organization providing the scholarship, the requirements for bereavement scholarships can vary greatly.

Scholarships that have recently suffered a loss can be available to students of all ages, while others might have age or relationship criteria.

A death certificate or obituary may be required of applicants, in addition to personal essays or letters outlining how the loss has affected them and why they require financial support.

If you’re considering applying for a bereavement scholarship, it’s a good idea to look into various scholarship opportunities, comprehend their unique qualifying requirements, and get any necessary paperwork or essays ready.

Keep in mind that there are many scholarship programs with specified application deadlines. You can learn more about potential scholarships, including bereavement scholarships, if they are available, by contacting the financial aid or scholarship office of the educational institution you want to attend.

If a parent passes away while serving in the military, the Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship Scheme (AFBSS) offers financial aid to the children.

This article outlines the application process for financial aid to help bereaved service children with some of the costs of higher education and university scholarships.

UK Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship

If you want to apply for financial aid through the AFBSS program to assist in paying for the costs of higher education, you must:

• have experienced a parent’s death while they were in the military (and the death occurred after January 1, 1990).
• being enrolled full-time in school and being at least sixteen (16) years old.
• Obtain bereavement payments through the War Pension Scheme, Armed Forces Compensation Scheme, or Armed Forces Attributable Payments Scheme (if a surviving parent does).

Note: Foster children of the dead are not eligible for scholarships for children whose parents died in the line of duty. For further information, consult the Armed Forces benefits, concessions, and pensions help page.

What a Military Bereaved Child Scholarship Covers

You can use the money you get from the Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship Scheme (AFBSS) to pay for upkeep and tuition for a variety of things, including:

• a course in further education (FE) lasting up to three (3) years.
• First undergraduate course at a university or other higher education provider in the United Kingdom (such as a college or an art school). Studying abroad is possible as long as it is required for the course.
• Higher-level technical education program (qualification levels 4, 5, or 6 required).
• You can learn more about the many course types offered under the program by contacting the higher education college or university of your choice.

Bereavement Scholarship Rates

You could apply for up to £1,500 (for a further education programme) for the academic year 2023–2024 (which runs from the first of September to the following August 31st).

• £9,250 on tuition.
• For a higher education (HE) or higher-level technical education study, a maintenance grant of £4,950 is available.
• If you want to study in Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland, you may request up to £9,000 in tuition assistance and £4,950 in maintenance grants.

Scholarship Payment Dates

Scholarship payments are not subject to a means test and are not taxed. Each academic year, three (3) installments would be due on or before the following dates:

• 31st of October
• 31st of January
• 30th of April

Until your institution or university verifies your enrollment and attendance at a course, they will not release the money.

The money then goes to the parent, legal guardian, or the military-bereaved kid directly.

Payments for scholarships can be retroactively given to kids whose parents died in service. The most likely scenario is if a youngster qualifies and submits an application while they are in school.

Note: There is more information on getting extra cash to pay for university while you are studying in the UK in another section.

Related Jimmy Rane Foundation

How to Apply for AFBSS Bevearement Scholarships

Downloading the Armed Forces Bereavement Scholarship Scheme (AFBSS) application is the first step.

Complete the form with your information and send it to the address indicated on the form.

You must also include the following information when applying for a scholarship for higher education:

• a written confirmation from the college or university that you accepted their offer of a spot.
• a copy of the invoice for the tuition costs, as an example, as proof of the charges.

UK Veterans Deadlines

For the academic year of the further education (FE) or university degree, Veterans UK must receive applications by January 31.

However, you will be eligible to submit your application starting on April 1 of the academic year in which you start your studies.

Scholarship value

A first undergraduate program at a publicly financed UK higher education institution will receive financial assistance through the Scheme (External Link).

Criteria

If all of the following are true, you may be eligible to apply for assistance with the costs of higher education:

• Due to their military service, one of your parents passed away.
• Your father passed away on January 1, 1990, or later.
• You are 16 or older and enrolled full-time in school.

Bereavement benefits are paid to you or a surviving parent under the Armed Forces Compensation Act, the War Pension Act, or the Armed Forces Attributable Benefits Act. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/afbss-form-1 for more details and eligibility requirements.

FAQS

1. What is a bereavement scholarship?

A bereavement scholarship is a sort of financial aid or grant provided to people who have lost a family member or other close relative. It aims to lessen the financial strain of continuing your education during a trying moment.

2. Who qualifies for a scholarship for bereavement?

Depending on the organization providing the award, different individuals may be eligible. In most cases, candidates must have recently experienced the death of a close family member (parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, etc.). Some scholarships may have age requirements or demand that applicants be enrolled in a certain course of study.

3. How do I apply for a scholarship for bereavement?

You must look for appropriate scholarship options and adhere to their application procedures to apply for a bereavement scholarship. This could entail completing an application form, providing supporting evidence (such as a death certificate or obituary), and perhaps even composing a personal essay outlining how the loss has affected you and why you require financial aid.

4. What costs are normally covered by bereavement scholarships?

Scholarships for bereavement may help with a range of educational costs, including tuition, books, fees, and even living expenses. However, based on the terms and circumstances of the scholarship, the precise expenses that are reimbursed may change.

5. Are need-based bereavement scholarships available?

Many bereavement scholarships are need-based, which means they are given to people who can show they have a financial need as a result of losing a family member. Some scholarships, however, might also take into account other things, such as academic success or volunteer work.

6. Can I apply for multiple bereavement scholarships?

As long as you complete the requirements for each scholarship, you may submit applications for more than one bereavement scholarship. It’s a good idea to look into different scholarship options and modify your applications to fit their specifications.

7. Are there any bereavement scholarship application deadlines?

Each scholarship program will have a different deadline for submissions. To be eligible for the scholarship, it’s critical to keep track of these dates and submit your application by the due date.

8. Are scholarships for bereavement available to graduate students?

Yes, there are some bereavement awards available to graduate as well as undergraduate students. To find out if graduate students are qualified, be sure to carefully read the scholarship’s terms and conditions.

9. Are scholarships for bereavement renewable?

While some bereavement scholarships may be renewed for several years, others may only be given once. For information on whether a scholarship can be renewed and the criteria for renewal, consult the scholarship’s terms.

10. Where can I get information on bereavement scholarships?

Bereavement scholarship options can be found in several places, including internet scholarship search engines, financial aid offices at universities, nonprofit groups, and foundations that support those who have experienced a loss.

Conclusion

The purpose of the Bereavement Scholarship is to provide scholarships to the offspring of service members whose deaths were deemed to have been caused by their duty to help defray some of the costs associated with pursuing higher education credentials, a college degree, or more advanced technical training.

For bereaved children of members of the UK armed forces, the Scheme will contribute to the cost of a first undergraduate program at a publicly financed UK higher education institution.

Keep in mind that the details of each bereavement scholarship might vary greatly, and the information presented here is broad.

Before applying, always check the scholarship’s qualifications and specifications for the most recent, correct information.

Good Luck!