How To Get Your University To Help With Your Financial Problems

How will my university help with my financial problems?

If you have financial problems, most universities will run a hardship fund. The name of the fund is different depending on where you're studying. In England it's called an Access to Learning Fund and in Wales it's called a Financial Contingency Fund. Basically it is money that the university will administer to be paid out to help students in financial difficulty for any reason. Usually there are two types of application. One is if you have more money going out than you have coming in and it's just a basic problem of meeting your general commitments, the university or the college will have a look and see what it can do to close that gap and help you. As a general rule, if you are particularly vulnerable you'll be more likely to get the funding. So if you have children, you're disabled, if you're in your final year and so on, your university would perhaps be able to help you more. Otherwise you might be helped in what's called a specific incident. For example, if the boiler explodes in your flat and you need to get it replaced and you need to get help with that specific cost rather than your general financial incomings and outgoings. So basically, the important thing to do is go and speak to your university and tell them about your financial situation. You'll be given a form to fill out most probably, which you can get help with and they'll be able to make a decision as to how they can help you from there.