Summer Hardship Fund

Eligibility

The Summer Hardship Fund is available to all University of the Arts students attending a full-time course, or a part-time course that is studied at a minimum intensity of 50% of the full-time course. Part time awards will be given on a pro rata basis. Students who have a disability which prevents them from studying at least 50% of a full-time course are eligible to be considered for assessment if studying at least 25% of the full-time course.

Students who are currently enrolled 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 £55,000 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.

Students who have been previously made an award from the University Hardship Fund for the 2024/25 academic year, must evidence an exceptional change of circumstances, as to why their circumstances merit additional financial support from the Summer Hardship Fund.

The Fund will treat the following groups as a priority for assessment if the student is able to provide supporting documents to evidence meeting the priority group(s) described below. Students:

• with caring responsibilities
• who are care leavers (undergraduate students only)
• with disabilities and chronic medical conditions which may affect paid employment
• 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 twelve 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 have experienced exceptional unexpected circumstances which can be documented - may include but is not limited to costs incurred due to bereavement of a parent/guardian/sibling, within the last 12 months; loss of earnings.

The award will be based on eligibility for the above-mentioned priority groups.

Awards are capped at a maximum of two priority groups.

If you have received an award for any of the priority groups in the 2024/25 academic year, your application will not be considered for this priority group.

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

There is no guarantee that any applicant will be eligible for or awarded the maximum amount.

Awards are paid in one instalment.

We will notify you of the decision on your application within 20 working days of receipt of your application, providing all details and full supporting evidence are supplied.

If any evidence is missing, the decision on your application will be delayed.

Receiving payment

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