University Bursary Eligibility Criteria

Please read this very carefully: Your application is subject to these criteria and the form requires you to sign that you have read and understood them.

Eligibility criteria for 2020 University (Page/Briggs) Bursary

Offered by the Post Office Orphans Benevolent Institution, POOBI.

1. Who can apply?

1. Serving Royal Mail (RM) or Post Office Ltd plc employees (who have parental responsibility for the young person) with a minimum length of RM or POL service: 2 years continuous employment with Royal Mail or Post Office Ltd. Note: Temporary contracts that were made permanent can be included in the 2 yrs. Irregular casual or agency workers are not eligible.
2. RM plc, RM Statutory Pension scheme (& Post Office Ltd.) pensioners who have parental responsibility/residence order for the young person or have significant financial or emotional/psychological responsibility for that young person. We will require evidence of that support.
3. An application must be on behalf of a young person (see below 2.6 for age definition) and who is either an EU citizen or has formal permission to stay and study in UK for the full period of the course (evidence will be required in such instances).
4. If the young person does not reside permanently with the applicant then the financial information required will be that of the household in which the young person does live and any contribution made by the applicant to the maintenance of the young person must be shown separately under "other income" on the application form.
5. Please note multiple requests for bursaries from POOBI may be restricted at the discretion of Trustees to ensure fairness in the distribution of funds.
6. The first year may not be a gap year, in such a case the funding would only be applicable from the second year. If an award is made and the student decides to take a gap year or other period of absence from the course after completion of the first academic year then they must apply in writing to the Trustees at the registered address of POOBI for a suspension of the award. Any such suspension and the conditions attaching to this will be at the discretion of the Trustees and will be given in writing.
7. Three years is considered to be the normal duration of a course. If the course is longer than 3 years (excluding a gap or sandwich year) then a further application for an extension can be made to complete the course. The application would need to be made towards the end of the 3rd year. Extensions are entirely at the discretion of the Trustees and will depend upon available funding. Extensions should only be made for a continuation of the original course and not a new course or further qualification.

2. Who is eligible to receive a bursary?

1. Those with an offer of a place at a university for entry at start of the academic year 2019/2020.
2. For those with an offer or place at an institution equivalent to a university (e.g. Drama/Horticultural College) we need evidence of the institution's status and that of the course. The Trustees' decision as to eligibility of the course is final. If a university is outside of the UK e.g. in the republic of Ireland, awards are at the discretion of the Trustees as to the status of the application.
3. Study must be for a first degree or equivalent course. First degree means a bachelors or equivalent degree and in cases of dispute the Trustees will have the final decision. Those studying for a masters degree may be eligible, but only if the course is equivalent to a first degree, e.g. a four year undergraduate qualification. The Trustees will need to be satisfied that the masters degree course is a first degree equivalent.
4. A 'foundation year' course is eligible however it will count towards the total number of years awarded which is normally three years e.g. inclusive of that 'foundation' year.
5. Any other bursaries which have been awarded or applied for must be declared on the form.
6. When applying from the first year of their course: the applicant’s 20th birthday must be before 31st August 2019. However for example, if applying for a course from the second or third year, the applicant’s 20th birthday must not have been before the first year of their course in 2017/2016 respectively.
7. Any employer/prospective employer-provided monetary sponsorship or bursary must be declared on the form.

3. What will be paid and how?

1. £1,550 per year paid in two equal instalments, to all bursary holders usually during November and in late March, paid directly into a bank account.
2. For those starting their first year at university in autumn 2019 there will be an additional grant of £300, which will be paid with the first instalment of the main bursary only. The additional grant will not be paid retrospectively if application is for a student already at university.
3. All payments are subject to university reports confirming entry and subsequent registration/attendance and continuation of studies. A report with evidence of registration must be submitted for each of the subsequent payments: spring and autumn. By the 28th February for the spring payment and by the 18th October for the autumn payment. If the evidence of registration is not received by POOBI by the dates specified then the payment will be deferred to the next payment date. If a claim is not received by POOBI by the 30th June or the 31st December for the respective spring or autumn payments then the Trustees of POOBI reserve the right to cancel that instalment of the bursary. A subsequent failure to submit evidence of registration by these dates may result in the cancellation of the remaining bursary payments.
4. Payment will not apply to any placement year e.g. for work experience, for which the student receives payment if employed under a contract of employment. In such cases the award will be deferred until after the placement year has been completed and the student has returned to the university for full time study (and proof of registration has been received by POOBI). The student must write to the Trustees of POOBI not later than the 30th of April if a 'placement year' is to be taken at the start of or during the following academic year and authority obtained to defer the payment of any remaining element of the award.
5. If the course involves an academic year (or a substantial part of a year) spent outside the UK then the bursary can still be paid, but only to a UK bank account. We will require evidence that the period spent outside the UK is part of the degree course.
6. Bursary payments cannot be paid for previous years, or part thereof, on any course i.e. no retrospective payments prior to the date of the award.

Please read the Frequently Asked Questions section on the website.

The Trustees can exercise their discretion. It is therefore important that the application form is fully completed and all relevant information included, on which the Trustees will base their decision.

The decision of the Trustees is final. There is no right of appeal. This bursary being a charitable gift does not form part of the applicant’s contract of employment with Royal Mail or Post Office Ltd. POOBI is an independent organisation with charitable status and is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (reference 37-BEN).