Summer Hardship Fund

Eligibility

Students who are on any undergraduate, graduate diploma or postgraduate course can apply for the Summer Hardship Fund.

Applications will also be considered from students who have completed a further education course, are not eligible for statutory funding from the 16-18 Bursary and Advanced Learner Loans Bursary and progressing on to a UAL undergraduate course. Further education applications will need to meet the eligibility criteria for the Summer Hardship Fund in order to be considered for funding.

All Home undergraduate students will need to have student finance assessment of household income that is below £45,000 to be eligible for payment from these funds and, International and postgraduate students will be required to demonstrate their household income is below this level.

In recognition of the cost of living crisis, the Summer Hardship Fund will provide a contribution of £500 to help with fuel cost for students who are in privately rented accommodation.

The Fund will treat the following student groups as a priority for assessment. Students:

• with caring responsibilities
• who are care leavers (home undergraduate students only)
• with disabilities and chronic medical conditions
• who are estranged from both parents (to be considered estranged from your parents, you must be under 25 years old and you won’t have had any written or verbal contact with either parent and this is unlikely to change. Estrangement is usually for a period of at least 12 months) - this priority group is only applicable to undergraduate students
• with significant debts
• who have been a victim of fraud resulting in unexpected hardship
• who were made the £1,000 UAL Bursary in the previous academic year, prior to undertaking the DPS/Placement year, for the current academic year (home undergraduate sandwich course students only)
• who have experienced exceptional unexpected circumstances which can be documented - may include but is not limited to costs incurred due to bereavement for a parent/guardian, within the last 12 months; loss of earnings and parent/guardians loss of earnings - invoices/receipts for expenses incurred will be required;  resubmission or retaking of units over summer.

Students who have been previously made an award from the Summer Hardship Fund for the 2022/23 academic year must evidence a change of circumstances, as to why their circumstances merit additional financial support from the Summer Hardship Fund.

Applicants must declare all sources of income and must demonstrate that they have made suitable provision to fund their studies. Applications from students who cannot show the means to support themselves are unlikely to succeed.

Applicants in receipt of state benefits must declare and evidence all receipt of benefits, both within the bank statements, as well as benefit entitlement letter(s).

About

The Summer Hardship Fund is a means-tested hardship, it is not a loan and does not need to be repaid. Support is available to assist with living costs.

The minimum award we can pay is £500 and the maximum amount award a student can be made from the Summer Hardship Fund is £2,750.

The award is for maintenance only; no award will be made for tuition fees.

Receiving payment

Successful applicants will receive payment via bank transfer. Further information to be provided after confirmation of funding.