The Financial Assistance Fund gives support to students experiencing financial hardship. It is designed to help students who may be forced to withdraw from their studies due to financial problems.

The fund acts as a safety net for students having unexpected or unavoidable financial problems. The fund is limited and cannot be used as a main source of income.

Applications are considered according to the fund eligibility criteria. Awards made at the discretion of the University.

Eligibility

You can only apply for the fund if you are a fully registered University of Bristol student. You must also:

• be in financial difficulty that puts you at risk of withdrawing from university
• have access to less than £100 across all bank accounts
• if you are a home student, receive the government maintenance loan (unless exempt).

The application windows for the 23/24 academic year are as follows:

·       Term 1: 18 September 2023 to 7 January 2024

·       Term 2: 8 January 2024 to 9 June 2024

·       Summer: 10 June 2024 to 15 September 2024

Do not submit more than one application per term unless your circumstances have changed.

The fund is available to undergraduate, postgraduate taught/research, home and EU/international fee paying students. The fund will not accept applications from pre-sessional, visiting, or exchange students.

The payments for part-time and temporary withdrawn students are capped.

Available assistance

The fund offers a choice of applying for a £50 food voucher or the standard cash award (where eligible). When applying for a food voucher, we will only need evidence that you have access to less than £100 across all bank accounts. We will not need more in-depth information about your current personal circumstances. Applications for the standard cash award will need additional information and evidence.

Food vouchers

Applications for food vouchers will be prioritised. Vouchers will be emailed to successful applicants once the assessment is completed. You can keep applying for vouchers through the Financial Assistance Fund if you remain eligible, but will be limited to 1 voucher every 4 weeks.

Food vouchers will count towards your total award value for the current term. Should you receive a £50 food voucher and at a later date apply for the standard cash award, this value will be taken from your total award. If you have already received a cash award during this term, you will not be eligible to receive a food voucher. We advise you to contact our Money Advisers as they may be able to offer you further help.

Standard cash award

If eligible for an award, there are three possible awards available:

• Level 1: £250
• Level 2: £500
• Level 3: £750

If successful, our assessors will decide which award you will receive based on your provided information.

Applications to the fund are considered according to the eligibility criteria:

Level 1

Level 1 awards are available to applicants who declare that they are in financial difficulty and can prove access to less than £100. This is after income (from part-time work, scholarships, bursaries, or other sources) and reasonable expenses for the term.

Level 2

Level 2 awards are available to applicants who are taking reasonable steps to reduce their financial problems but remain in difficulty. This can include:

• working a part-time job for a reasonable number of hours per week
• using a considerable amount of an interest free student overdraft.

Alternatively, applicants may have:

• excessive debt
• placement related costs
• a health problem preventing their ability to work a part-time job.

Home students must have applied for, and received, the UK government maintenance loan (unless exempt). International Students must prove that they have made ‘reasonable financial provision’ before starting their course.

Level 3

Level 3 awards are only available to applicants who are in full-time study and meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have dependent children
• have caring responsibilities
• are in receipt of the Bristol Standalone Bursary
• are presently homeless

Summer applications

Between 10 June and 15 September 2024, applications to the Financial Assistance Fund will be limited only to applicants who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• have confirmed re-sit examinations or are re-taking elements of your course
• are taking a course with exams in July
• are a student in Health Sciences undertaking a placement during the summer term
• have caring responsibilities for a child or adult dependant
• have an illness which prevents you from working a part-time job
• were under 25 at the start of your course AND are a care leaver, estranged from both parents, or have no living parents.

Final year undergraduate students whose enrolment with the university is due to end in the summer will not be eligible. Those re-taking elements of their course including dissertation may still be eligible. Postgraduate taught students who are writing dissertations through the summer will remain eligible. 

Before you apply

Ensure you have:

1. provided us with your bank details
2. prepared screenshots or statements showing the current balance for all accounts that you hold funds in.

We aim to process all applications within 5 working days of submission. Applications with missing or incomplete evidence could impact our assessment time, and may be rejected.

How to apply

Applications for Term 2 are now open.

Apply for FAF

Unsuccessful applications

If your application has been unsuccessful or you are unhappy with your decision, you can email the hardship team at hardship-fund@bristol.ac.uk. You can ask for an explanation of how your award was calculated. We will only accept appeals and reassess your application on the basis of:

• new information/evidence not submitted before assessment
• there being an error on your original submission
• A major material change of circumstances having a negative financial impact on you.

Further details

If you have questions about the Financial Assistance Fund, email the hardship team at hardship-fund@bristol.ac.uk.