Access to Learning Fund

The Access to Learning Fund is available to students who are going through financial hardship. Successful applicants can receive a fund of up to £3,000 if you need extra money to buy course materials, pay rent or bills, or pay for childcare.

Who can apply
The Access to Learning Fund is available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students can also qualify for the fund, as long as their course:

- Lasts for at least one year
- Takes no more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course

If you have a disability or learning difficulty where it will take more than twice as long to complete your course than an equivalent full-time course, you may still be able to apply for help from the fund.

How to apply
To apply for the Access to Learning Fund you'll need to go to your campus finance office, School Registry office or Student Funding office. You must prove that you don't have much money in the bank. You must submit a completed application form and provide supporting evidence, such as:

- Evidence of income (wage slips or benefit payments)
- Accommodation costs (rent and bills)
- Bank statements
- Travel expenses
- Study costs
- Childcare costs
- A copy of the letter from Student Finance England showing how much you will get through the standard student finance (student loan) package

You must have already applied for any student loans, grants and bursaries you’re entitled to before applying for the Access to Learning Fund.

The Access to Learning Fund is discretionary - the University makes the final decision about whether you can claim and the amount of money you'll get.

Find out more about the Access to Learning Fund and download an application form the University website here.