The Hardship Fund (HF)

Available to all postgraduate students who experience unanticipated and serious financial difficulties.

The Hardship Fund is provided by the University as a safety net for students in unforeseen financial difficulty despite having received all financial support available to them. The Hardship Fund is not a main source of support and all students are expected to have made reasonable provision for their living costs (and tuition fees) before starting their studies, and so the Hardship Fund is only intended to provide support where a student's circumstances have changed after they have started studying.Awards are assessed by calculating the difference between your expected provision (from income and/or capital) and standardised living costs to identify any shortfall. The maximum award is £2,500. Not all applications will be successful.

Awards are assessed by calculating the difference between your expected provision (from income and/or capital) and standardised living costs to identify any shortfall. Successful applicants will receive either the amount requested or the calculated standard award, whichever is the lower, up to a maximum of £2,500.

In exceptional circumstances non-standard awards may be paid even though there may be no calculated shortfall. For example - emergency situations, emergency flights home, unexpected costs due to ill health. The amount of assistance is discretionary, up to a maximum of £2,500.