A university hardship fund is money set aside for students who are experiencing serious or unexpected financial difficulty while studying.

Unlike your Maintenance Loan, hardship funding will usually not need to be repaid. However, each university sets its own rules, so the amount available and who qualifies varies considerably.

What can a hardship fund help with?

It is generally intended for essential costs rather than ordinary discretionary spending. Depending on the university, this could include:

  • rent and essential household bills
  • food and basic living costs
  • unexpected travel
  • essential course equipment
  • childcare
  • emergency expenses
  • financial problems caused by a sudden change in circumstances

Some universities also operate separate emergency funds for students who need immediate help with essentials.

Who can apply?

You do not necessarily need to be receiving the minimum Maintenance Loan or come from a particular household-income bracket.

Universities normally assess applications individually and may give particular consideration to students facing circumstances such as:

  • unexpectedly losing a job or other income
  • receiving less financial support than expected
  • sudden essential expenses
  • family or relationship breakdown
  • being estranged from parents
  • caring responsibilities
  • serious difficulty meeting basic living costs

A hardship fund is generally intended as a safety net, rather than an alternative to taking out the student finance you are already entitled to.

How do you apply?

Search your university website for “hardship fund”, “financial assistance fund” or “student support fund”. Applications are normally handled by the university's student funding or support team.

You will usually be asked to provide information such as:

1. Your income
Maintenance Loan, wages, bursaries, benefits, savings and any other money you receive.

2. Your spending
Rent, bills, food, travel, childcare and other essential costs.

3. Bank statements
Universities commonly ask for recent statements for your current accounts and sometimes savings accounts.

4. Evidence of the problem
For example, a tenancy agreement, unexpected bill, evidence of lost employment or another document showing why your financial circumstances have changed.

5. A short explanation
You may need to explain what has happened, how you originally expected to fund university and why you now need assistance.

How much could you get?

There is no standard UK hardship-fund payment. One university might offer a relatively small emergency payment while another could award hundreds or potentially thousands of pounds following a full financial assessment.

The amount normally depends on your financial shortfall and your university's own rules and available funding.

Don't wait until you have nothing left

If you're clearly heading towards financial difficulty, apply early. Applications can require evidence and take time to assess, and university funds may have limited budgets.

If you're struggling to pay for essentials, contact your university's student money or funding team even if you're unsure whether you qualify. They can usually tell you what funds are available and whether there are other bursaries or emergency schemes you should apply for instead.