Cardiff University Ceredigion Bursary
The Cardiff University Ceredigion Bursary is a prestigious award supporting a bright and ambitious Welsh-speaking student from a low-income household residing in Ceredigion.
The award is made to help them overcome financial or other barriers to access education so they may achieve their potential by benefitting from a Cardiff University degree.
About the bursary
The bursary is open to Cardiff University offer holders who are Welsh-speaking, residing in Ceredigion, from a low-income background (e.g. a recipient of the Educational Maintenance Allowance or Free School Meals) and under 25 years old when they enrol in September 2026. Full eligibility criteria is detailed in the Terms and Conditions. The application process is conducted through the medium of Welsh.
The bursary will be awarded to an eligible individual, who will receive £18,750 over the course of their studies (£6,250 pa), contributing towards living costs. The bursary requires the recipient to participate in the Cardiff University Career Mentoring programme, giving them information and advice for considering careers and roles in particular sectors, and establishing their professional network. The recipient will be encouraged to participate in Welsh-medium opportunities that the University offers. This includes becoming a Welsh language Student Ambassador at events such as Open Days, where they can share their university life experience and inspire prospective students, developing their confidence in talking with diverse audiences through the medium of Welsh.
About the donor
This bursary is made possible by a generous donation from Mr D. R. Williams, whose family roots are originally in Ceredigion. Mr Williams’ grandparents and great grandparents were proud members of their Welsh-speaking communities, working in the dairy and, latterly, the mining industries to support and provide for themselves and their families.
Mr Williams studied Economics and Management and credits his success and prosperity partly to the knowledge he learned at Cardiff University. He was inspired by the works of leading economists and political thinkers such as Adam Smith and Friedrich Hayek, who championed free markets, competition, and the idea that the self-directed individual can drive societal prosperity and improvement.
Mr Williams champions broadening horizons for an understanding of the world and society. John Davies’ book ‘The History of Wales’ (1990) and Gerald Morgan’s ‘Ceredigion: A Wealth of History’ (2005) are modern works of literature which provide a cornerstone text for Welsh identity and historical understanding. The successful bursary recipient is encouraged to read influential and credible literature in their chosen discipline areas to support and enrich their educational journey and benefit from that knowledge of innate human behaviour, success, and freedom.
Mr Williams hopes that the recipient of this prestigious and generous bursary will be a bright and ambitious young person from Ceredigion to make the most of this opportunity for themselves to study at Cardiff University and help them to establish their own successful career and promising future.
How to apply
For your chance to be successful in being awarded this bursary, please read the terms and conditions for the eligibility criteria and apply using the online application form by Sunday 19 April 2026 at 23.59. All applicants will be informed of the decision by Friday 22 of May 2026. The application process is through the medium of Welsh only.
Confidentiality: Personal data is covered by data protection legislation, which includes the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act 2018 and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All information will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be divulged to any person or organisation apart from Cardiff University's Ceredigion Bursary selection panel unless fraud is being investigated.
Terms and Conditions
- Applications are to be made in Welsh only.
- Applications should be written by the applicant and not use AI tools.
- All applications will be considered by the Cardiff University Ceredigion Bursary selection panel. The panel’s decision is final, and there is no right of appeal.
- Applications using the online application form must be submitted by Sunday 19 April 2026 at 23.59. Late applications will not be considered.
- Applicants will hear the outcome of their application by Friday 22 May 2026.
- The successful recipient must be a Cardiff University offer-holder, enrolling as a first-year undergraduate student in 2026-27.
- The successful recipient must reside in Ceredigion.
- The successful recipient must be under 25 years old before they enrol as a student by 30th September 2026.
- The successful recipient must be enrolled on one of Cardiff University’s 300+ eligible undergraduate degree courses. Those outside the scope of the bursary include:
- *Undergraduate degree courses outside the scope of the bursary:
- English Literature and Philosophy (BA) UCAS code: VQ53
- Philosophy (BA) UCAS code: V500
- Philosophy and Linguistics (BA) UCAS code: QV36
- Philosophy, Politics and International Relations (BA) UCAS code: LV28
- Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (BA) UCAS code: VV65
- Welsh and Philosophy (BA) UCAS code: QV55
- Politics (BA) UCAS code: L210
- Religious Studies and Theology UCAS code: V6V6
- Religion, Philosophy and Ethics (BA) UCAS code: VV65
- Human and Social Sciences (BSc) UCAS code: 58H2
- Politics and Sociology (BSc Econ) UCAS code: LL32
- Social Science (BSc) UCAS code: L301
- Sociology (BSc) UCAS code: 8H46
- Sociology and Education (BSc) UCAS code: 8J46
- Sociology and Social Policy (BSc) UCAS code: 8K4
- Applicants will have to prove they are from a low-income background (for example, recipients of Education Maintenance Allowance or Free School Meals).
- The applicant’s chosen degree course does not need to be studied through the medium of Welsh.
- Preference may be given to an applicant holding an offer to study a degree course that includes a placement year.
- After enrolling at Cardiff University, the successful recipient must report to a nominated member of staff, such as their personal tutor, on an agreed regular basis to ensure that they remain committed to this bursary, including maintaining a high level of engagement with their studies, mentoring, and work placement.
- The successful recipient must progress to the next year of their studies to access funding for the following year. The bursary will not include a year being repeated due to non-progression.
- The bursary will not include a year out on placement, only three years of study at the university campus.
- The bursary will provide £6,250 annually for three years as a stipend towards living costs, a total of £18,750. This will be paid as a bank transfer to the awarded student, typically in the first semester over three years of study. The successful student will need to share their bank details with Cardiff University.
- The successful recipient will receive mentoring through the Cardiff University Career Mentoring programme. This will be available throughout the bursary's lifetime.
- The successful recipient will be required to complete a short article in the first year, which will be shared with the donor. These are produced by the Development and Alumni Relations team.
- The successful recipient may be asked to be interviewed to advertise other bursaries at Cardiff University.
For further inquiries about the bursary, please contact us by sending an email with "Ceredigion Bursary" in the title to: donate@cardiff.ac.uk
