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Grants, prizes and opportunities for you
We're working with Santander Universities to help students and graduates access opportunities for learning, employability and entrepreneurship.
Current opportunities
£10,000 for our students as part of Santander’s Brighter Futures Grants
As we enter the first semester of our university year, we are excited to announce the return of the Brighter Futures Grants programme in partnership with Santander. We’re giving away 10 grants of £1,000 each to students.
All students can enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students. You can use the grants for anything you need, whether it’s buying tech or textbooks, upgrading your study space, or covering living expenses - the choice is yours.
Entering is quick and easy:
- Register for Santander Open Academy, a free online learning platform (if you haven’t already).
- Click the verification link in your confirmation email.
- Log in and choose ‘Get Started’ to complete your entry into the Brighter Futures Grants programme. Select University of Portsmouth from the menu.
- Submit your entry by 11pm on 27 November 2025. T&Cs apply.
T&Cs apply. Enter by 27 November 2025. UK students 18+
The application process for the Brighter Futures Grant was really simple and took hardly any time at all. I didn’t expect to win, so the email telling me I’d been awarded £1,000 was a brilliant thing to wake up to. I’d previously been awarded a bursary through the College of Policing but turned it down after deciding to leave the police - so this felt like a helpful bit of support at the right time. I’ve used the money to pay off the laptop I bought for my studies, which has been a big help financially. I’d definitely encourage anyone thinking about applying to just go for it - you’ve got nothing to lose.
Win £500 in food vouchers with the Santander Fuel Your Studies student prize draw
Santander is helping students with the cost of living by offering the chance to win £500 in food vouchers through the Fuel Your Studies prize draw.
Whether stocking up on groceries or grabbing a bite to eat, prizes can be used to buy essentials or exchange for a Lifestyle Eat gift card - accepted at popular spots like Deliveroo, Just Eat, Nando’s, Wagamama, Costa Coffee, and more.
150 chances to win
- 25 winners in August
- 25 winners in September
- 100 winners in November
You only need to apply once for a chance to win in up to three draws. The earlier you apply, the more chances you have.
Who can enter?
All UK students aged 18+, including:
- Undergraduates, postgraduates, full-time and part-time students, including degree apprentices
- No need to be a Santander customer
Deadline to enter: 13 November 2025. T&Cs apply.
Our partnership with Santander Universities
We have 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
- mobility grants for students to study overseas