Sources of Financial Support

1. Student Support from the State

Click here for Direct Gov's Student Finance Forms & Guides

Tips on applying for student support:

Apply even if you don't want to take any financial help at the moment – you'll be registered on the system.This makes it easier if your circumstances change and you find you need the money. It also helps determine your fee status at your University.
Check the deadlines for applying for support. Keep to them if you want your money on time.
Read the application form (and any notes) thoroughly before completing it.
Make sure you provide all the information for which you are asked.
Make sure you're claiming everything you might be entitled to by completing the relevant parts of the application form and completing any additional forms that may be required e.g. for help with childcare costs.
Always use your full name as it appears on your birth certificate or passport on any official forms, bank accounts etc. and stick to it.
Find your National Insurance Number (NINO) or get one as soon as possible – otherwise your student loan will be delayed or not paid at all. If you have difficulty in obtaining a NINO, or don't know how to get one, speak to your University's Advice Service to find out what to do.
Open a bank account. If you change your bank account during your course let your student awarding body know as soon as possible. Otherwise your money may not end up in the right place.
If you want to be considered for the Access Agreement Bursaries/Welsh Bursary Scheme make sure you, and whoever’s income is being assessed for your award, complete the relevant boxes on the student finance application forms (or sign the form which will be sent to you by SAAS if you live in Scotland) allowing information to be passed to your University.
It is very important to let your award making body know of any changes in your contact details so that they can keep in touch with you from year to year.

2. Access/Hardship Funding

If, while you are a student, you find you are struggling to make ends meet you may be able to receive some extra financial help through Funds administered by your University on behalf of the Government.

The Funds have different names depending on which country of the UK you are studying in, and may be run in slightly different ways by each University.

If you think you might need extra help, see the contact details for your University's advisors here.

Second degree, as well as first degree UK students, can apply for help from these Funds.

Access to Learning Fund (ALF) (England)

The Fund is available to all eligible UK students studying in England.
The Fund provides help for students on a low income who may need extra financial support for their course and to stay in higher education.
You must have taken out your maximum maintenance student loan entitlement to be eligible to apply for ALF.
Students are assessed on their individual need but certain groups have priority.
Payments are usually grants but can be short-term loans.
The Fund is administered through your University.
Application forms are detailed as the Fund administrators have to make sure you are eligible to apply and need to know about your personal financial situation.
There is an opportunity on the application form for you to put forward any extra information you feel would help your case.
The best advice is to be honest and to try to put your points across briefly in a clear orderly and way.
Remember to provide all the documents you are asked for to support your claim.
Find out more about ALF under Student Finance fact sheets on the related website.

Discretionary Funds 08/09 (previously named Hardship Funds) (Scotland)

The Funds are available to all UK students studying in Scotland.
Discretionary Funds are provided by SAAS to Universities in Scotland to help students who, for whatever reasons, have financial difficulties.
Your University decides which students should receive payments and how much each payment should be.
You apply directly to the University for help.
The Funds operate in a very similar way to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) in England.
You can find out more on the SAAS website - look under Other Sources of Funding.

Childcare Fund (Scotland)

The Fund is provided by SAAS to Universities in Scotland to help towards the cost of registered or formal childcare:

You must be eligible for tuition fee support to get help from the Fund.
Your University decides which students should receive payments and how much each payment should be.
The Fund is limited so not all eligible students will receive money.
If you're studying in Scotland but are in receipt of the Childcare Grant you will not be able to get help from the Childcare Fund.

Apply directly to your University for help if you have childcare costs.

3. Applying to Charitable Trusts

There are thousands of charitable trusts (funders) that offer financial help to people, based on eligibility criteria including age, gender, religion or ethnicity, place of birth or residence or parental occupation as well as individual circumstances. See Get Advice page.

Most funders are understaffed and oversubscribed so follow our 12 tips to help give your application the best chance of success:

Don’t apply to funders unless you meet their criteria. However deserving your cause, funders can’t bend the rules of their trust
International students are less likely to be eligible for funding – check with funders before applying
Tailor your applications rather than sending out a standard letter. Highlight to each funder how your application meets their criteria
Apply correctly. Some funders require you to use their application form, for others you can apply by letter and some require a 3rd party (e.g. a student welfare adviser) to apply on your behalf
What makes you special? Most students are short of cash but if you have particularly difficult circumstances, explain this in your application. Examples include being from a low-income family, having a disability, having children or caring responsibilities or being a final year student with no time for paid work
Include a budget that clearly states all income, including Student Loan, grants, NHS bursary, part-time work wages and money from other fundraising efforts plus all your expenditure
Why do you need money? Be specific and use your budget to demonstrate your funding shortfall
Don’t expect lots of money from funders. Asking for thousands of pounds is unrealistic
Most funders like to know a bit about you so highlight your good points including any voluntary work, part-time and vacation work and membership of societies
Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your application
Don’t expect a quick reply. Most funders have a board of trustees that meet a few times a year so plan ahead and apply BEFORE you need money.
Remember to write to say thanks if you’re successful in receiving funding. You could even offer to contribute to the fund in the future when you’re in a better financial position.

4. Benefits & Tax Credits

Most full time students can't claim welfare benefits but there are important exceptions.
Welfare benefits are administered by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) in England, Wales and Scotland, through Jobcentre Plus Offices and the Disability and Carers Service, and through the Social Security Agency in Northern Ireland.
Housing and Council Tax Benefits are administered by your local council in England, Wales and Scotland.
Tax Credits and Child Benefit are administered by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). As with welfare benefits Tax Credits and Child Benefit are the same across the UK and are altered with the tax year – 6 April to 5 April.
You’re not excluded from claiming Child Benefit or Tax Credits simply because you’re a full-time student.
Tax Credit awards are assessed on your income in the previous tax year. This can lead to under or overpayments. So tell the HMRC immediately if your income changes or of any other relevant changes in your circumstances. Make a note of when you called and who you spoke to and keep copies of all correspondence. Tax Credit applications need to be renewed for each tax year.
If you are an EEA or International Student there is detailed information on the UKCISA Website about your position with regard to Welfare benefits and Tax Credits.
Welfare benefits and Tax Credits are very complicated. It is as well to be aware that the Government offices which administer them may get the advice they give to, and calculations they do, for students wrong.

5. Borrowing

See advice on borrowing

Part of content is reprinted with kind permission of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund