The Santander Scholarship UK offers £5,000 to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students at partner universities across the United Kingdom. According to the University of York, applications for the 2025/26 academic year close on Thursday 19 February 2026 at 11:59pm GMT, which is approximately 17 days from now.
Important: This £5,000 Santander university scholarship is only available to UK residents with Home Fee Status. International students are not eligible for this particular programme.
My name is Babatunde Oladepo, and I created NG Career to help students access verified scholarship information. While this Santander Scholarship is only available to UK residents, I have included it because many of our readers are UK-based students or planning to study in the UK. For international students seeking UK opportunities, see our guides on UK student visa application and the Commonwealth Scholarship 2026.
What is a Santander Scholarship?
According to Teesside University, Santander Universities is a global initiative dedicated to empowering students and universities through education. Since 1996, it has partnered with more than 1,000 universities, investing billions in scholarships, research, internships, start-up support, and courses that promote social mobility.
The Santander Scholarships 2025/26 programme is specifically designed to support current university students in reaching their full potential and enhancing their future career prospects with the support of £5,000 scholarships.
Is Santander Scholarship Legit?
Yes. According to Santander’s official corporate website at santander.com, Santander has been supporting education, employment and entrepreneurship for almost 30 years. The organisation has invested over 2.4 billion euros in partnership with more than 1,100 universities and organizations and supported over 3.7 million people and businesses.
According to santander.com, Santander has committed to invest an extra 400 million euros in education, employability and entrepreneurship between 2023 and 2026.
The scholarship is administered directly through official UK university partnerships via the Santander Open Academy platform, not through third-party agencies.
According to the University of Portsmouth, the university has worked in partnership with Santander, through Santander Universities, since 2018. In that time Santander Universities has provided over £267,000 of funding to schemes at the University of Portsmouth, including financial grants for students in hardship, grants and training programmes for student entrepreneurs, and mobility grants for students to study overseas.
Santander Scholarship 2026: Award Details
According to the University of York and Teesside University:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Award Amount | £5,000 |
| Number of Awards | 2 per partner university |
| Total Partner Institutions | Approximately 75 UK universities |
| Academic Year | 2025/26 |
| Application Deadline | 19 February 2026, 11:59pm GMT |
| Application Platform | Santander Open Academy |
What the £5,000 Scholarship Covers
According to the University of York, the scholarship will support students with the cost of education-related expenses such as:
- Tuition fees
- Course materials
- Accommodation
- Career development
- Other essential costs that help you keep focus on your studies
According to the University of Portsmouth, you can use the grants for anything you need, whether it is buying tech or textbooks, upgrading your study space, or covering living expenses.
Santander Scholarship Eligibility Requirements
Basic Eligibility Criteria
According to the University of York scholarship page at york.ac.uk:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Age | Must be 18 years or older |
| Residency | Must be a UK resident |
| Fee Status | Must qualify as a Home Fee Status student |
| Enrollment | Current full-time undergraduate or postgraduate student |
| Study Year | Enrolled in any year of study during 2025/26 academic year |
| Santander Customer | NOT required |
University-Specific Priority Criteria (Widening Participation)
Different universities prioritize different groups for this widening participation scholarship:
University of York: According to york.ac.uk, preference will be given to students who have participated in the following University of York Access and Outreach Programmes: Next Step York, Black Access, or Realising Opportunities.
University of Reading: According to reading.ac.uk, priority will be given to applicants who are Care Experienced (anyone who has lived in some form of care at any point in their life such as foster care, residential care, kinship care, local authority care or looked after at home under the supervision of social services) or estranged from their families.
Teesside University: According to tees.ac.uk, awards are made at the discretion of the Scholarships Panel, who may consider your financial background, prior academic performance, as well as other information provided through your application and at any subsequent interview. Students must study an undergraduate or postgraduate course in the Teesside University International Business School, School of Health and Life Sciences, School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Law, or the School of Arts and Creative Industries.
Can International Students Apply for Santander Scholarship UK?
No. According to the University of York, this scholarship is open to UK (home) students only. Applicants must be UK residents and qualify as Home Fee Status students.
International students paying international tuition fees are not eligible for this particular programme. However, Santander offers other programmes internationally through the Santander Open Academy platform.
For international students seeking scholarships, explore our guides on Canada scholarships for Nigerians 2026 and how to apply for scholarships.
Santander Scholarship UK 2026 Deadline
| Application Period | Deadline |
|---|---|
| 2025/26 Academic Year | Thursday 19 February 2026, 11:59pm GMT |
With less than three weeks remaining before applications close, eligible students should begin their application immediately.
How to Apply for Santander Scholarship UK
Santander Open Academy Application Process
According to the University of York, the application process is:
Step 1: Visit Santander Open Academy at app.santanderopenacademy.com
Step 2: Register on the Open Academy for free (if you have not already). According to the Santander Open Academy FAQ, you do not need to be a Banco Santander customer to register.
Step 3: Verify your email (check your inbox and spam folder)
Step 4: Log in and click “Get Started”
Step 5: Complete the application form, including providing your university student ID number
Step 6: Complete the online assessment
Step 7: Submit before the February 19 deadline
Application Requirements
According to the University of York, you will be asked to:
- Share personal information including your name and course of study
- Indicate any additional Widening Participation criteria that apply to you
- Answer the question: “What impact would being awarded a Santander Scholarship have on your university education?” (maximum 250 words)
- Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria
- Consent to information being shared with your university as part of the selection process
Online Assessment
According to the University of York, you will be asked to complete an online assessment exploring your responses to questions on:
- Interpersonal Style
- Thinking Style
- Emotional Style
- Motivation
- Culture fit
- Response Style
Applicants will need to read each statement and indicate how much they agree with it using 5 ratings from strongly agree to strongly disagree. This assessment is compatible with mobile devices, tablets, desktop PCs, and laptops across all operating systems and browsers.
For guidance on writing compelling scholarship applications, see our article on how to write a scholarship essay.
Participating UK Universities
Universities confirmed offering the £5,000 Santander Scholarship for 2025/26 include:
| University | Priority Criteria |
|---|---|
| University of York | Access and Outreach Programme participants |
| University of Reading | Care experienced or estranged students |
| Teesside University | Specific schools, financial background considered |
| University of Portsmouth | Open to all eligible students |
| Nottingham Trent University | Open to all eligible students |
Important: This list is not exhaustive. According to Teesside University, Santander Universities collaborates with around 75 partner institutions in the UK. Check the Santander Open Academy platform or your university’s scholarships page to confirm if your institution participates.
How Applications Are Allocated
According to the University of York:
- Applications are shortlisted by Santander via the Open Academy Platform
- University staff verify shortlisted candidates by comparing responses with information on the student record system
- Staff liaise with Access and Outreach teams to confirm participation in eligible access programmes
- Final allocation is made based on successful verification with preference given to students who participated in eligible university access programmes
- Successful applicants receive notification by email from the Santander Open Academy platform
- Selected scholarship students have 7 days to accept their award on the platform
Other Santander Opportunities
Santander Career Support Award 2025-26
According to the Santander Open Academy, this is a separate initiative designed to support students with £250 to help make their next career opportunity a reality.
Santander Student Tech Prize Draw 2026
According to the University of Portsmouth, students have the chance to win 1 of 10 brand-new MacBook Air laptops with up to 18 hours of battery life to support day-to-day life at university. Entry deadline is also 19 February 2026.
Who can enter:
- All UK students aged 18+ including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students
- No need to be a Santander customer
Santander Open Academy Free Courses
According to santander.com, Santander Open Academy offers courses by leading universities and institutions all over the world, free of charge. The platform has over 1,000 courses, materials and scholarships. You do not have to be a Santander customer or hold a degree to access it.
Santander Brighter Futures Grant
According to Loughborough University, Santander offers £1,000 grants to undergraduate and postgraduate students to put towards the cost of studying, from study resources to accommodation and bills. Winners are selected randomly.
Frequently Asked Questions on Santander Scholarship UK 2026
Do I need to be a Santander customer to apply?
No. According to the University of York and all partner universities, there is no requirement to be a Santander customer.
What if I am not at a partner university?
Only students at Santander partner universities can apply. According to Teesside University, approximately 75 UK universities partner with Santander. Check the Santander Open Academy platform or your university’s scholarships page to confirm participation.
Can I apply if I am a part-time student?
According to the University of York, the £5,000 scholarship is open to current full-time students. However, according to the University of Portsmouth, for other Santander programmes like the Tech Prize Draw, all UK students aged 18+ including part-time and full-time students may enter. Check your specific university’s requirements for the main scholarship.
When will I find out if I have been successful?
According to the University of York, successful applicants will receive notification by email from the Santander Open Academy platform. Selected scholarship students have 7 days to accept their award on the platform.
Can I apply for multiple Santander opportunities?
Yes. According to the Santander Open Academy FAQ, you can apply for multiple programmes. The scholarships are also compatible with other scholarships and aids granted by official bodies.
What happens if I want to reject an accepted scholarship?
According to the Santander Open Academy FAQ, you can reject a scholarship you have previously accepted by logging in, going to the “My Learning” section, choosing the programme, and clicking “Reject seat.” This allows the scholarship to be reassigned to another person on the waiting list.
Tips for a Strong Santander Scholarship Application
Based on the eligibility and assessment criteria from official university sources:
Prepare your 250-word statement in advance. According to the University of York, you will be asked what impact being awarded a Santander Scholarship would have on your university education. Draft this before starting your application.
Highlight relevant widening participation circumstances. If you participated in university access programmes, are care experienced, estranged from family, or come from a low-income background, clearly explain your situation.
Complete the assessment thoughtfully. The online assessment evaluates interpersonal style, thinking style, emotional style, motivation, culture fit, and response style. Answer honestly as this is not a test with right or wrong answers.
Apply before the deadline closes. Do not wait until 19 February. Technical issues or email verification delays could prevent submission.
Check your university email regularly. Verification and notification emails will be sent to your registered email address.
Official Links
- Santander Open Academy Application Portal: app.santanderopenacademy.com
- Santander Scholarships 2025-26 Programme: app.santanderopenacademy.com/en/program/santander-scholarships-2025-26
- University of York Santander Scholarship: york.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/fees-funding/uk/scholarships/santander-scholarship/
- University of Reading Santander Scholarship: reading.ac.uk/essentials/Money_matters/Funding/Santander-scholarship
- Teesside University Santander Scholarship: tees.ac.uk/sections/fulltime/scholarships_santander_scholarship.cfm
- Santander Open Academy FAQ: santanderopenacademy.com/en/faq.html
