The City, University of London Hardship Fund

Students can apply for a grant or loan, dependent on their current financial circumstances. To be considered for a grant students need to be financially assessed the maximum grant value is £2000 and for priority* students £3500 (grants do not need to be repaid). Where students are experiencing a temporary shortfall in funding a loan maybe provided, the maximum loan value is £2000 (the loan must be repaid). Funding is provided towards living costs and course materials e.g. a laptop, WiFi, software only.

* students with a disability, dependent children, carers, care leavers, estranged students, students from low household incomes, undergraduate students in their final year and those with exceptional financial need

Students must meet all of the eligibility criteria below:

• Students must be enrolled full-time or part-time students (at least 25% of a full-time equivalent course) at City, University of London. INTO students are not eligible to apply.
• Urdang undergraduates in Year 1.
• Students must apply for all eligible sources of funding before applying to the City Hardship Fund, this would include the full entitlement for means tested maintenance loans and allowances, NHS Funding, Welfare Benefits (e.g. Universal Credit).
• Students need to demonstrate that they have made realistic provision to pay their tuition fees and living expenses.
• Students must have normally received their first instalment of student funding.
• Students must be up to date with their tuition fee payments.
• Students can only apply once during each academic year.

A) Evidence of income – submit all that apply to you

• Three months bank statements for all your bank accounts (excel spreadsheets are not acceptable) please explain all transactions over £100;
• Student Finance entitlement statement or letter for 2022/23
• NHS Bursary entitlement letter 2022/23
• Studentship or scholarship letter for 2022/23
• Three months payslips (modular, part-time, placement or secondment students only)
• Partner/spouse income for three months e.g. payslips or bank statements;
• Recent Welfare Benefit entitlement letter

B) Evidence of expenses – submit all that apply to you

• Rent/tenancy contract, mortgage statement, parental confirmation of contribution to rent/mortgage;
• Priority bills e.g. rent arrears, council tax arrears, overdue utility bills
• Childcare costs
• If your term-time address is outside London please highlight your weekly/monthly travel expenses on your bank statements
• Other costs e.g. optical, dental, prescription
• Council tax bill

• Register with Blackbullion and complete the following modules: Make budgeting work for you, Student Lifestyle and Risk – take screenshots of each module completed you will need to submit these screenshots as part of your application.
• Complete all sections on the City Hardship Fund application form and upload all required evidence that applies to you. Incomplete applications will not be assessed until all the required evidence has been provided.
• Applications are assessed in the order of receipt, normally within 4 weeks. We conduct a financial assessment and take into consideration your personal circumstances.
• You will be notified of the outcome via your City email address. If you are given a grant/loan we will pay you directly into your bank account, using the details you provide on your application form