Concerned about your finances?

The Student Financial Support Fund is provided by the University to give discretionary financial assistance to registered UK students if they:

• need help with unexpected financial difficulties
• have a low income*
• are considering leaving higher education because of financial problems
• are experiencing a funding delay e.g. a delayed payment of your student loan instalment or stipend

*if you're a postgraduate student or undertaking a second degree you'll need to be able to evidence that you had adequate funding in place when you commenced your course

Detailed information about this funding and our assessment process can be found in our 2023-24 Student Financial Support Fund Policy (PDF: 112KB).

Applying to the Student Financial Support Fund

You'll need to provide supporting documentation with your application form including bank statements. Our Bank Statement Guidance (PDF: 72KB) outlines the format of bank statements we are able to accept.

If your 2023/24 academic year is now underway:

• complete a 2023/24 application form
• upload a completed 2023-24 Income and Expenditure Table (Word:17KB)

If you require this application form in an alternative format email us.

The Financial Assistance Fund (FAF) is provided by the University to give discretionary short-term financial assistance to registered international and EU students who are experiencing serious and unexpected financial difficulties. You’ll need to be able to evidence that:

• you commenced your course with adequate funding in place for the duration of your studies
• your financial difficulties have occurred due to circumstances beyond your control

Detailed information about this funding and our assessment process can be found in our Financial Assistance Fund Supplementary Policy (PDF: 98KB).

Applying to the Financial Assistance Fund  

You'll need to provide supporting documentation with your application form including bank statements. Our Bank Statement Guidance (PDF: 74KB) outlines the format of bank statements we are able to accept.

If your 2023/24 academic year is now underway:

• complete a 2023/24 application form
• upload a completed 2023-24 Income and Expenditure Table (Word: 17KB)

If you require this application form in an alternative format email us.

Please contact us by emailing us.  

We aim to respond to your enquiry on the same day to find out more about your financial difficulties. If you’re eligible to apply for emergency loan funding we’ll send you a short online application form to complete.

Our short application form asks you some questions to find out more about your financial situation. You’ll also need to:

• provide bank statements for all of your bank accounts which include transactions and balances for the last four weeks
• include your available balance(s) on the day you submit your bank statements

See our Bank Statement Guidance (PDF: 74KB) to find out more about the format of bank statements that we’re able to accept.

Assessors aim to:

• reach a decision and provide you with the outcome of your emergency loan on the same day (Mon-Fri).
• reach a decision within 24 hours, in some instances it can take longer if you're asked to provide further supporting information

We'll email you with the outcome of your emergency loan application and you'll be asked to sign, date and return a declaration to indicate that you understand the terms and conditions of the loan.  Once you have returned your declaration we'll arrange for payment of your loan.

Payment is usually made by Tesco e-voucher and / or BACS transfer.

We'll only offer an emergency loan to assist with short-term essential living costs. If you need longer term assistance you'll need to apply to the Student Financial Support Fund or Financial Assistance Fund. 

In most instances we'll provide short-term assistance by issuing a Tesco e-voucher to help you buy essentials such a food and toiletries.

We may be able to provide alternative support in some circumstances by making a BACS transfer to your nominated bank account. BACS payments are not immediate and it can take a few days for the payment to reach your bank account. 

We can't issue cash payments.

We'll agree a repayment date with you when we're assessing your emergency loan application. We'll take into account when you expect to receive your next source of income. You'll only repay what you borrow from us; your loan won't accrue interest.

You can repay online via our webstore.

If you're unable to repay by the agreed date contact us straight away to discuss the options available to you. We're here to support you and will always try to be flexible.

You’ll find more information about the consequences of not repaying emergency loan funding in our Emergency Loan Terms and Conditions  (PDF: 35KB).

If you're a registered student and don't have access to IT provision needed to engage with your course you could be eligible for support through the Student IT Hardship Fund. This funding is administered on a discretionary basis – it is not an automatic entitlement and you should not regard this as guaranteed income. 

Please read our IT Hardship Fund Terms and Conditions (PDF: 87KB).

Who can apply?

The scheme can support undergraduate, postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students. Home and overseas students can apply.  

Eligibility Criteria

You're more likely to receive support from the Fund if you:

• have caring responsibilities
• are a care leaver
• are an estranged student
• have a medical condition or disability
• you are on a placement year and it may be more difficult for you to access on campus IT facilities

Applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and decisions will be based on the information and evidence you provide. There is no appeals process. 

You can apply for the Student IT Hardship Fund:

• if you're a registered student who cannot access existing IT provision provided by the University (e.g. PC clusters) and;
• you do not have access to a sutiable device and / or internet connectivity and; 
• you cannot afford to purchase a device and / or internet connectivity

You can only apply for device support and internet connectivity once in any academic year. 

Do not apply for this funding if you require support assistance with software. For advice on the software provision that is available to you as a student, visit this page.

What support is available through the Student IT Hardship Fund?

Eligible students (see our terms and conditions document above) can apply for:

• £200 grant to assist with internet connectivity / or equipment
• £500 grant to assist with the purchase of a laptop 

Grants are non-repayable.

You should retain any receipts / invoices frrom your purchases as we may ask for copies of these for audit purposes.

How to apply

Please only apply if you really need help. You should only apply if you're unable to access the PC clusters and you're in financial need.

If your 2023/24 academic year is now underway you can apply here. 

Supporting documentation requirements are outlined on the application form but you should note that you'll be asked to provide one month of continuous and up-to-date bank statements for all of your bank accounts, including any overseas accounts. Our Bank Statement Guidance (PDF: 74KB) provides more information about the format of bank statements that we can accept.

How are payments made?

Payments will be made by BACS credit transfer and will only be made to a bank account held by you.  Before submitting your application form you must submit your bank details via S3P here.

If you don't hold a UK bank account you'll not be able to upload your international bank account details to S3P. Please contact the team immediately to advise if this is the case so we can make other arrangements for you.

Contact

If you have any enquiries about this funding please email us.  

If you are experiencing financial difficulties and are struggling to cover your living costs you may be eligible to for financial support from the:

• Student Financial Support Fund (UK students)
• Financial Assistance Fund (EU and International students)