Financial Hardship

If you have found yourself in financial difficulties during your course, the help that you can get will depend largely on:

• the cause of your financial problem;
• how much money you need;
• how long you will need help for;
• the purpose of the money.

Unfortunately, if the problem will be long-term or will require a considerable amount of money, there is little if anything that can be done to help.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS?

University help

If you are unable to pay your tuition fees, you could ask the Finance Department whether you can delay your payments or extend them over a longer period. It is important to keep the University informed of your difficulties as soon as they start and to keep them up to date of any developments, good or bad.  Try to negotiate a way round the problem. Do not ignore fee demands.  Discuss them.

In addition, in certain circumstances, there may be a University hardship fund, which could offer SHORT-TERM help. Contact our International Student Adviser or alternatively contact the International Office and speak to their International Student Support Officer.

PRIVATE TRUSTS AND CHARITIES

There are some private trusts or charities that can deal with student financial hardship, but they can usually only offer small amounts of money (£200 - £500). The advice and support centre provides a booklet with further information on this subject.

It is important to note that many private charities will not consider an application from you if you have not approached the institution first.  A concession on fees or another positive commitment from the institution will also greatly improve the likelihood of receiving financial help from a trust or charity.

DEBT ADVICE

Our Finance Advisers or the local Citizens Advice Bureau (look in the telephone directory for its address) might be able to advise you on managing your expenditure and debts more effectively.

BENEFITS

EU Students

Your entitlement to some benefits will depend on which country you come from.  Students from most EEA countries are normally entitled to the same benefits that exist for the British students.  Bear in mind though that only certain groups of students such as single parents and disabled students are entitled to benefits.  Students from the Accession countries new to the EU will not be able to claim benefits until they find employment and have worked in the UK for a year.

As an EEA student you can register with a GP even if your visa is for less than six months. Some medical treatment will be free as EEA countries have reciprocal arrangements with the UK. It may not cover conditions that exist before you travel to the UK though. You should check which treatment is covered if you are not sure. The rules are the same for students from accession countries new to the EU.

Visa Nationals/other non-EEA/Swiss students

Students from outside of the EEA and Switzerland are not entitled to public funds unless there is a temporary disruption of funds from abroad in which case it may be possible to claim temporary assistance.  However, making a claim for benefits may have an impact on any future immigration applications you and your family make. It is a condition of your stay in the UK that you have "sufficient resources to avoid becoming a burden on the social assistance system" of the UK.

non EEA/Swiss students with a visa for more than six months can register with a GP and have non-emergency treatment from the NHS (as long as it is not for a pre-existing condition). All International students can receive emergency medical treatment from the NHS. Whether any of the above services have to be paid for depends upon whether the student's home country has a reciprocal agreement with the UK. Contact your embassy for further information.

Useful websites

UKCISA

Trusts offering partial and full scholarships.

education uk
British Council website: information on scholarship from the UK government and UK colleges and universities.

Directory of Social Change
Directory of Social Changes website.