Hardship Support Fund

Available to all postgraduate students who experience unanticipated and serious financial difficulties.

The Hardship Fund (HF) is provided by the University as a safety net for students in unforeseen financial difficulty despite having received all financial support available to them. It is not a main source of support. The fund cannot help with tuition fee payments. You need only make one application in any academic year, unless you experience a further change of circumstances. Not all applications will be successful. The maximum award to each applicant is £2,500 for the year. Decisions are made by the Assistant Registrar.

Awards are assessed by calculating the difference between your expected provision (from income and/or capital) and standardised living costs to identify any shortfall. Successful applicants will receive either the amount requested or the calculated standard award, whichever is the lower, up to a maximum of £2,500.

In exceptional circumstances non-standard awards may be paid even though there may be no calculated shortfall. For example - emergency situations, emergency flights home, unexpected costs due to ill health. The amount of assistance is discretionary, up to a maximum of £2,500.