Hardship Funds for UK students

Access to Learning Fund

This is a Government scheme administered by the University that provides financial assistance to full and part time (UK Home) students or those that meet the residency eligibility criteria (please see guidance notes below). The Access to Learning Fund is for those able to demonstrate genuine financial hardship. It can be used to help with living costs including childcare, travel, accommodation, household expenses, books and course equipment, but NOT tuition fees, except part time undergraduate students who started their course before 2012 (see below Additional Fee Support Scheme).

It cannot help those who have mismanaged their finances and have simply 'run out of money'. It also cannot fully compensate for the lack of parental contribution, especially where a student has only been able to take out the non-means tested part of the Student Loan. Students should be aware that ALF is intended to act as a safety net for those in financial difficulty rather than their main source of income. Awards are not guaranteed and, if successful, awards may be given as grants or loans depending on an individual’s circumstances.

When can I apply?

Undergraduate students can apply for help from the fund from October (or before if your course has an earlier start date) until June. Final year students must apply by 4 May to allow time to assess your application prior to your course end date. The Summer Vacation fund for continuing Undergraduate students is open for applications from July to September.

Postgraduate students may apply to the fund at any time during the year but this must be more than four weeks prior to the academic year end date to allow time to assess your application.

New students can submit an application prior to commencing studies but will not receive any help from the fund until Registration Online has been successfully completed and your attendance confirmed.

You can download an application form and guidance notes or they can be obtained from the Student Services Centre in 4 West. You may be required to have an advice appointment with one of our Student Funding Advisers.

Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS).

This is only available to part-time undergraduates who started a course before 2012 – to help pay for tuition fees for those on lower incomes, where the fee grant does not meet the whole amount.

Welfare Benefits

Students who are entitled to welfare benefits are advised that these should be applied for, before submitting an application to ALF. Any award from ALF may affect your benefit payments, but on request we can produce a letter for your Job Centre Plus/Housing Benefit office, which will confirm whether or not the award will affect your benefits.

Access to Learning Fund Emergency Loans

Students who are facing a temporary cash flow problem can apply for a small short term loan via ALF. Repayments are normally expected within 3 months or before the end of the academic year (whichever is sooner). UK students should have taken out their maximum student loan entitlement and have an interest free overdraft facility available with a bank, if applicable. You will be required to provide us with your last 3 months bank statements and to have an interview with a Student Funding Adviser.

You can download an application form and guidance notes or they can be obtained from the Student Services Centre in 4 West. You may be required to have an advice appointment with one of our Student Funding Advisers.

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