University Hardship Fund

Students who are on any further education, undergraduate, graduate diploma, postgraduate or research course can apply for the University Hardship Fund, but you should check the detailed eligibility requirements in the guidance notes before applying.

To be eligible for a payment from this fund, students will need to have an annual household income that is below £55,000.

Applications will also be considered from students studying a further education course who are not eligible for statutory funding from the 16-18 Bursary and Advanced Learner Loans Bursary. Further education applications will need to meet the eligibility criteria for the University Hardship Fund in order to be considered for funding.

All Home undergraduate students will need to have student finance assessment of household income that is below £55,000 to be eligible for payment from these funds and, International and postgraduate students will be required to demonstrate their household income is below this level. If you have not been means-tested, you will not be eligible for consideration for the University Hardship Fund.

Postgraduate and research students who are eligible for a student loan from Student Finance, must have taken out the full entitlement in order for your application to be considered. If you have not taken the Student Finance loan, you will not be eligible for consideration for the University Hardship Fund. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have made realistic provision at the start of the course to fund both the course tuition fees and living costs for the duration of the course otherwise you will not be eligible for consideration for the University Hardship Fund.

In recognition of rising energy costs, the University Hardship Fund will provide a contribution of £500 to help with fuel cost for students who are in privately rented accommodation.