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The Holt Award

Applications will open in August 2025.

The University of Liverpool and the Holt Education Trust are pleased to offer six scholarships to support undergraduate students from socio-economically underrepresented backgrounds, studying an eligible course within the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences. Eligible course are: Nursing BN, Occupational Therapy BSc and Physiotherapy BSc.

Applicants must have a strong Merseyside connection, such as being born, educated or a resident of Merseyside before attending University, and be able to demonstrate a commitment to the area in their application. Merseyside covers the boroughs of Sefton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Wirral and St Helens.

Applicants must also be ordinarily resident in the UK and undertaking an eligible undergraduate programme starting in the academic year 2025/26.

The Holt Education Trust was established in 1915 from an endowment in memory of two prominent philanthropists, Alfred and Philip Henry Holt. Philip Holt, together with his brother Alfred, founded Ocean Steam Ship Company Ltd in 1865. The brothers were strong supporters of education, founding the first high school for girls in Liverpool at Blackburne House, as well as the Liverpool Mechanics’ Institute.

The award

The scholarship will provide an award of £2,500 for each year of a three year undergraduate course. The Holt Award may be held in conjunction with other applicable University of Liverpool Widening Participation Bursaries.

Eligibility criteria

  1. Have firmly accepted an offer of a place at the University of Liverpool, for year one of an eligible full time undergraduate degree programme, commencing study in the 2025/26 academic year. Eligible programmes are: Nursing BN, Occupational Therapy BSc and Physiotherapy BSc.
  2. This must be your first degree, and you do not have any other equivalent higher-level qualifications.
  3. Have been assessed for fee status as a ‘home’ student, or expect to be assessed as a ‘home’ student.
  4. Have a household income of less than £25,000 per annum.
  5. Have made an application to Student Finance England for full financial support for the 2025/26 academic year. Please ensure you have given consent to share your information with the University, as this will be used to determine eligibility.
  6. Have a strong Merseyside connection, such as being born, educated or a resident of Merseyside before attending University. Merseyside covers Sefton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Wirral and St. Helens.
  7. Consideration will be made, although not exclusively, to applicants who are first generation students, from single parent families, care leavers or refugees with Indefinite Leave to Remain.
  8. We will also look at where you live (postcode) and other measures of educational challenges, often referred to as socio-economic metrics. Further information on widening access and contextual admissions at the University of Liverpool and how we assess candidates.

The application process

How to apply

Information on applications will be shared in August 2025.

Completing your application

When completing your application, please ensure all information is entered carefully, including your contact details.

The application asks 3 questions. You have up to 4,000 characters to respond to each question and should try to answer as fully as possible. There are no right or wrong answers, we just want to understand your reasons for applying.

The questions are:

  1. As a result of your studies, what financial difficulties do you anticipate encountering over the next three years? It is important that you write a statement explaining your personal circumstances, why you need financial assistance and how you intend to use the award.
  2. What considerations played a role in your decision to choose your course of study?
  3. How can this bursary benefit your academic endeavours and ultimately communities or services on Merseyside?

You may wish to write your statements in Microsoft Word or another software in advance of completing this form and copy it over.

We will also ask for your personal details, including your full name, University student ID number, home address, programme of study, name of the school or college you previously attended and your email address. We will ask you to confirm that:

  • You have applied, been assessed for and expect to be in receipt of the maximum level of support from the Government through Student Finance England, for tuition fees and maintenance loans, and you have provided consent to share your information with the University.
  • This is your first undergraduate degree programme and you have not started a degree programme previously.

Closing date

The closing date will be published in August 2025, when applications open.

Decisions

A panel of representatives from the University of Liverpool will assess applications and compile a shortlist of the strongest applications which will be reviewed by the Holt Education Trust.

Enquiries

If you have questions about the award please contact: wpscholarships@liverpool.ac.uk.