How to apply to Undergraduate Summer Scheme Hardship Fund

The University鈥檚 Hardship Fund provides a grant to students who find themselves in financial hardship due to unforeseen circumstances since starting the course. The Hardship Fund Summer Scheme is intended to help undergraduate students who face financial difficulties during the summer vacation. The fund cannot help with tuition fee payments.

Financial assistance may be granted if students are living independently over the summer, possibly due to being a care leaver or estranged from their family. It can also help those who are from low-income backgrounds living in the parental home over the summer, students prevented from supporting themselves due to caring responsibilities or students who have other family, personal or health difficulties which make it necessary to stay in 海角社区. It is expected that students will attempt to find paid work or other means of supporting themselves over the summer but should explain if they have reasonable grounds for not doing so.

Applications will be accepted from the end of summer term (mid-June) to mid-September and decisions/payments will be made within four weeks of receipt of a completed application. The application form and budget sheet will become available around mid-June - see the “More Resources” section below.

  • Applications will be assessed over the 14-week period of the summer vacation.
  • It is important to set out your specific circumstances over the summer.
  • In general your term time student finance will not be treated as income during the summer vacation but, if eligible, you are expected to have borrowed a government maintenance loan during the previous academic year.

Receiving a decision

Completed applications will be assessed, and a decision usually communicated within 28 days. A maximum of £2,500 can be received in any one academic year, but the amount awarded depends on individual circumstances. If you have already received the maximum £2,500 amount, no further award will be paid.

If your application is successful, payments will be made to the bank account details held on the University’s records. Awards in excess of £1,000 will normally be paid in instalments. If you have any outstanding Emergency Hardship Loans, it is usual to deduct the loan from any award you received from the Fund.

If your application is unsuccessful, please  on your options.

How can the University support you?

We strongly recommend that you contact the Student Advice and Support Service (SASS) for feedback on your draft form and supporting documentation prior to formal submission.

You can book an appointment to do this by phoning +44 (0) 1509 222765 or .

Last updated: 9th October 2024