Hardship Fund

The Hardship Support Fund provides financial support to help you to access and remain in higher education, and can help alleviate unexpected financial hardship.

Please note The Fund opened on 14 October 2024 for September start students (*) and will open on the 13 January 2025 for February start students (*) you will need to complete the correct application form.  (*) The start date is based on when you first enrolled with the University and will match your 2024/25 SFE entitlement letter.
 
The fund will close on 16 May 2025 or when all funds have been exhausted. For final year students the closing date is 18 April 2025, or when funds have been exhausted, The September start fund may close before the February start fund, September start students will be ineligible to apply for the February Fund. There is no appeal over this rule. 
 
Important - Supporting evidence - Please ensure you upload all the correct documents as per the 2024-25 Hardship Guidance
  • 2024-25 SFE entitlement letter, all the pages showing the breakdown of your support, not any of the summary screens
  • Benefits entitlement notifications - universal credit via gov.uk
  • Evidence or any rent paid, must show your name and the amount

If documents are missing and we need to request them, this will delay the processing of your application

Application form links are below, please ensure you apply to the correct fund, incorrect applications applied for may result in delayed or no award being made.

 

September application - for any student who first  started their course in a September intake, your SFE 2024-25 entitlement letter will have the month by the course of study - Please Note: when this fund closes you can not make an application to the January fund - Access the form here

January application - for any student who first  started their course in a January intake, your SFE 2024-25 entitlement letter will have the month by the course of study - Access the form here

When one fund closes, you can not make an application to the other fund due to your start dates, and the application will be refused 

 
Students may be able to source some extra support through various trusts and charities. Please refer to the Student Money and Accommodation Advice team's information sheet: Educational trusts and charities and the links below.
 
If you're struggling with energy costs you might be able to receive certain benefits, grants and help offered by the government and energy suppliers.
 
The following are some Useful trust and charities for students looking for external financial support.
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