Scholarships and Bursaries

At St John’s College, we offer the following range of scholarships and bursaries for current students. Applications forms are shared with current students at the beginning of each academic year.

Further details for current students and application forms are available on the St John's College intranet. 

The David Wilkinson First Generation Scholarship 

The David Wilkinson First Generation Scholars Fund was launched in 2023 by the outgoing Principal, Revd Professor David Wilkinson, himself a first-generation scholar from the Northeast. It was launched to promote widening participation and access by providing accommodation scholarships for students from first generation, BAME and lower income backgrounds, offering two scholars annually up to half of the College accommodation costs for their first year.  

St John’s Student Opportunities Fund

This fund can provide relief of hardship and monies to enable participation in the full range of opportunities that might otherwise be closed to students with limited means, so as to enable enrichment of their university experience.

Limited funds are available for distribution each year to assist current St John’s students with travel, education, research, and other costs involved in College, charitable and outreach projects. Awards are typically made in the region of £100 – £250, though higher amounts may be awarded on occasion for outstanding applications. 

Application deadlines for the academic year 2023/24 are Sunday 15 October, Sunday 11 February, Sunday 5 May and Sunday 23 June (all at 23.59pm).

Read stories from recent grant recipients on the John's Chronicle: Student Opportunities Fund – John's Chronicle (johnschronicle.org)

St John’s Postgraduate Scholarship

Currently, one scholarship of £1000 in the form of a contribution towards tuition fees is awarded annually to a prospective/new St John’s postgraduate student. The scholarships are intended to provide some additional financial support for applicants who have partial, but not full funding from other sources. Applications open at the start of each academic year.

The Leadbeater College Accommodation Award

The Leadbeater College Accommodation Award was launched in 2018, established through a generous contribution to the College in memory of Gordon Leadbeater. The purpose of the award is to promote widening participation and access by supporting new undergraduate students from lower-income families to live in St John’s College in their first year, and to encourage innovative contributions to College life. It is expected that 1000 GBP is awarded annually to one scholar, and used to offset their College accommodation fees. Applications open at the start of each academic year.

St John's Law Book Bursary

The St John’s College Law Book Bursary has been generously established by alumnus and SCR President Richard Roberts to support Law students with the purchase of textbooks.  The bursary consists of a £250 contribution towards the purchase of Law textbooks in which the applicant will receive one off payment at the beginning of the academic year.

The Law School has additional scholarships available: Undergraduate Funding Opportunities - Durham University

Friends of Cranmer Hall Fund

This award is funded by generous contributions from local churches in order to help Cranmer Ordinands who find themselves in financial hardship during their time in training. Awards and loans are typically made in the region of £100 – £400. Members of Cranmer Hall who wish to be considered for the Fund should contact their Tutor.

The Bowron Bursary Fund

The Bowron Bursary Fund is a travel bursary funded by David and Helen Bowron, to be used for Christian overseas relief work by members of St John’s College, Durham. Interested applicants should send an expression of interest with an outline of their proposed project to johns.secretary@durham.ac.uk.

Choral and Organ Scholarships

St John’s College offers 16 choral scholarships each year with a flexible balance between the four voice parts, alongside one senior and one junior organ scholarship. Importance is attached to vocal quality, musicianship and good sight-reading skills, as well as a willingness to be challenged by different types of music. This year, there are vacancies for organists and all voice parts. The choral scholarships are for one year and attract an honorarium of £300 each, and the Wallis Organ Scholarship £420, paid in termly instalments.

Auditions for next year’s scholarships will take place at the start of the academic year. Please sign up at the Freshers Fair or email johns.chapelchoir@durham.ac.uk indicating your voice part and any relevant experience you might have. The Director of Chapel Music is Louise Reid.

The Evangelical Graduate Scholarship

The new Evangelical Graduate Scholarship has been established in honour of Professor Walter Moberly with the aim to support postgraduate research students in the Department of Theology and Religion. 

The Evangelical Graduate Fellowship is a bursary open to Postgraduate Research students in the Department of Theology and Religion. In line with the donor intent funds up to a total of £1500 may be awarded on a competitive basis. Applications open at the start of each academic year.