Concerned about your finances?

The Student Financial Support Fund is provided by the University to give discretionary financial assistance to registered UK students if they:

• need help with unexpected financial difficulties
• have a low income*
• are considering leaving higher education because of financial problems
• are experiencing a funding delay e.g. a delayed payment of your student loan instalment or stipend

*if you're a postgraduate student or undertaking a second degree you'll need to be able to evidence that you had adequate funding in place when you commenced your course

Detailed information about this funding and our assessment process can be found in our Student Financial Support Fund Policy 25-26

Applying to the Student Financial Support Fund

If your 2025-26 academic year has commenced:

You'll need to:

• complete a 2025/26 application form If you require this form in an alternative format email us.
• provide supporting documentation with your application form including bank statements. Bank Statement Guidance (PDF: 122KB) outlines the format of bank statements we are able to accept.
• complete and upload this 25-26 Income and Expenditure Form (Word: 34KB)

If your 2024/25 summer period has not yet ended:

Complete a Summer 2024/25 application form

The Financial Assistance Fund (FAF) is provided by the University to give discretionary short-term financial assistance to registered international and EU students who are experiencing serious and unexpected financial difficulties. You’ll need to be able to evidence that:

• you commenced your course with adequate funding in place for the duration of your studies
• your financial difficulties have occurred due to circumstances beyond your control

Detailed information about this funding and our assessment process can be found in our Financial Assistance Fund Policy 25-26 (PDF: 160KB)

Applying to the Financial Assistance Fund  

If your 2025/26 academic year has commenced:

You'll need to:

• complete our 2025/26 online application form. If you require this application form in a alternative format email us.
• provide supporting documentation with your application form including bank statements. Our Bank Statement Guidance outlines the format of bank statements we are able to accept.
• complete and upload this 25-26 Income and Expenditure Form (Word: 34KB)

If your 2024/25 summer period has not yet ended:

Complete a Summer 2024/25 application form

If you think you need to apply for an emergency loan you'll need to email us.  

We aim to respond to your enquiry on the same day to find out more about your financial difficulties. If you’re eligible to apply for emergency loan funding we’ll send you a short online application form to complete.

Our short application form asks you some questions to find out more about your financial situation. You’ll also need to:

• provide bank statements for all of your bank accounts which include transactions and balances for the last four weeks
• include your available balance(s) on the day you submit your bank statements

See our Bank Statement Guidance (PDF: 120KB) to find out more about the format of bank statements that we’re able to accept.

Assessors aim to:

• reach a decision and provide you with the outcome of your emergency loan on the same day (Mon-Fri).
• reach a decision within 24 hours, in some instances it can take longer if you're asked to provide further supporting information

We'll email you with the outcome of your emergency loan application and you'll be asked to sign, date and return a declaration to indicate that you understand the terms and conditions of the loan.  Once you have returned your declaration we'll arrange for payment of your loan.

We'll only offer an emergency loan to assist with short-term essential living costs. If you need longer term assistance you'll also need to apply to the Student Financial Support Fund or Financial Assistance Fund. 

In most instances we'll provide short-term assistance by issuing

• a Tesco e-voucher to help you buy essentials such a food and toiletries;
• a same day payment via the Aspire Payment Platform;
• or a combination of the above.

Please note: We are unable to issue cash payments.

If we have concerns about your spending habits, support will likely be provided only in the form of Tesco e-vouchers.

We'll agree a repayment date with you when we're assessing your emergency loan application. We'll take into account when you expect to receive your next source of income. You'll only repay what you borrow from us; your loan won't accrue interest.

You can repay online via our webstore.

If you're unable to repay by the agreed date contact us straight away to discuss the options available to you. We're here to support you and will always try to be flexible.

You’ll find more information about the consequences of not repaying emergency loan funding in our Emergency Loan Terms and Conditions 2025 (PDF: 419KB).