University Hardship Funds: Eligibility, Application Process, and Tips

University life can be exciting, but also incredibly expensive and at times students may find these never-ending costs overwhelming. If you’re struggling to keep up with these expenses, university hardship funds could be the lifeline you need. However, like most funding, they come with their own policies and restrictions, so they aren’t quite as straightforward as they may seem.

In this article, we’ll be decoding these so that you know exactly what they are, who qualifies for them, and how you can apply to get the financial support you need.

What are hardship funds?

University hardship funds, also known as Access to Learning Funds, are bursaries or grants designed to help students in the UK who face significant financial difficulties.

Like bursaries, they will generally be based on your financial situation and normally don’t need to be repaid, offering a much-needed safety net for those struggling to cover costs. An added benefit is that these funds aren’t considered income, meaning they won’t affect your eligibility for benefits or tax credits.

Although the government provides the funding, individual universities manage and distribute hardship funds. This means the amount you can receive, as well as the application process and deadlines, can vary depending on your institution.

However, we’ll walk you through the general consensus on these details later on in this article.

You can learn more about university hardship funds on this page of the government website. For more details, have a look at this page on Northumbria University’s website.

Who is eligible for university hardship funds?

University hardship funds are needs-based grants designed to support students facing significant financial challenges. These funds take into account both the student’s and their family’s financial situation. You can learn more about bursaries by looking at this Think Student article.

As university hardships funds are designed to only help students in the greatest need, they tend to have rather strict eligibility criteria.

Priority for the university hardship fund is, therefore, often given to students in the following circumstances:

• Students with children: Including those who are single parents.
• Students from low-income families: Typically, with an annual household income below £55,000 (though this threshold may vary by university).
• Mature students: Especially those with existing financial commitments, such as mortgages or dependents.
• Students with disabilities: Who may have additional living or study costs.
• Care leavers: Students who have been in the foster care system.
• Students that are homeless: Or at risk of becoming homeless.
• Estranged students: Undergraduate students who are not in contact with their families.
• Students with extenuating circumstances: Such as unexpected medical expenses or sudden changes in financial status.

You can learn more about these on this page of the government website.

Eligibility may also depend on a student’s mode of study. Some of the categories of students that universities typically consider for this fund include, but aren’t limited to, the following:

You can learn more about this on this page of the University of Arts London’s website. This guide from the University of Reading provides some extra details.

How do you apply for university hardship funds?

If you’re in need of some extra financial support and have checked to see whether you fit your university’s eligibility criteria for this fund, the next thing to do is to apply. Have a look at the following list of steps for applying to a university’s support fund to help you get started:

Step 1: Check your university’s policies — Check your university’s website to see their policies on eligibility, the application process and to give you more information about how it will specifically work at your university.

Step 2: Contact your university — At some universities, this is a necessary step to initiate your application as you would have found on their website. If not, it can still be useful to contact student support services to gain more information and to see if an alternative would be better for you.

Step 3: Complete the application form — This may be done through your student portal, email or potentially even in hard-copy form, depending on what your university allows.

Step 4: Provide evidence — As a needs-based form of funding, evidence will be needed to assess your situation. We’ll look more into this in the following section, but some evidence might include proof of your bank balance.

Step 5: Submit your application before the deadline — Make sure that you know and adhere to the deadline your university sets as a late application might be instantly rejected.

Learn more about the application process for university hardship funds from this page on the University of Liverpool’s website and this page from Bangor University.

What evidence do you need to provide for hardship funds?

Providing evidence is a crucial part of your application, as it allows your university to fully assess your financial situation. Your university will typically outline the specific types of evidence they require, so be sure to check their guidelines carefully.

If your university doesn’t specify the exact amount of evidence needed, it’s always a good idea to include as much relevant documentation as possible. This will ensure that your application is well-supported. You can see some examples of relevant evidence in the following table:

You can learn more about these examples from this page of the Ulster University website. This page from Aberystwyth University will talk you through more details on how such evidence should be submitted.

Ensure that all evidence you submit is relevant to the time period of your claim and is both official and credible.

How much can you get from a university hardship fund?

If your application is successful, how much you get will depend on what your university deems of your situations. However, it will also depend on the university you go to and what their policies are for allocations.

At some universities, you might only be eligible for £50 worth in vouchers. At others, you could receive as much as £7,500 or potentially more depending on the extremity of your situation. For more on what you could receive, have a look at this page on Durham University’s website.

Some common forms of universities providing aid via the university hardship fund are as follows:

• One-time payments: For example, the University of Aberystwyth offers short-term awards for 4 weeks if you aren’t considered to eligible for long-term funding, you can learn more on this page of their website.
• Grants in several instalments: For example, the University of Arts London pays grants in 3 termly instalments, you can learn more on this page of their website.
• Food vouchers: For example, the University of Bristol allows students apply for food vouchers of £50, you can learn more on this page of their website.

To find out exactly how much you might be eligible for, check your university’s hardship fund page for specific details. Remember, the aid provided is tailored to meet individual needs and circumstances.

How long does it take to receive a university hardship fund?

Once you have completed your application and submitted all your evidence, your claim will be processed by the respective board at your university. Once a decision has been made, you will be notified via your university email or the student portal used for your application.

The timeframe for receiving a response will depend on your university and the volume of applications they process. Some universities can reply in as little as 2 days, while others may take up to 8 weeks. Many universities typically respond within 20 days.

Delays may occur if additional evidence is requested, so it’s important to ensure that your application is complete, and all required evidence is submitted initially. Incomplete applications may be automatically rejected.

Learn more on this page of the University of Buckingham’s website and this page by Keele University.

What should you do if your application is rejected?

If your application is rejected, don’t lose hope—there are some options you can explore to improve your situation:

• Appeal: If you feel that the outcome was unfair, you may be able to appeal it. However, unless you have further evidence to support your claim that wasn’t previously available, this appeal is unlikely to be successful. You can learn more on this page of the Bangor University website.
• Reapply: If your university allows you to apply again, you may need to talk to an adviser at your university before this allowed to take place. To be successful you will most likely need evidence of a considerable downturn in your circumstances. For more, have a look at this page of the Aberystwyth University website.
• Seek other means of finance: Even if not eligible for this fund, there may be other financial aids that your university offers, for example as a part of the same scheme, Durham University offers short-term loans. Learn more on this page of the Durham University website. Also, many universities offer student pantries and you may consider using food banks, which you can learn more about in this article by Save The Student.

Are hardship funds the same as student loans?

As university hardship funds and student loans are both financial aids to help students, you might be wondering whether these are the same thing, and if hardship funds are considered as a type of student loan.

The short answer is, no, they are not the same and serve different purposes.

The table below outlines the key differences between hardship funds and student loans:

Learn more about student loans on gov.uk.