Extra money for those who need it

Find out if you might be eligible to apply for some extra money to help plug the gap in your finances.

You may be able to get some help if:

  • you've planned your budget and your funding isn't enough to cover your essential costs, or
  • something unexpected happens and leaves you struggling financially.

NTU Undergraduate Support Fund for UK home students

The NTU Undergraduate Support Fund (previously known as the Undergraduate Hardship Fund) is an amount of money provided by the University. It offers financial assistance during the academic year and is available to eligible UK home undergraduate students who are:

  • in financial difficulty because their funding doesn't cover their essential living expenses, or
  • facing financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances.

What help is available?

If you're eligible, you'll get a grant from the NTU Undergraduate Support Fund. This is to supplement your main source of funding for your undergraduate course during term-time. It offers some support in meeting any shortfall between your income and expenditure. It's a grant, not a loan, so you won't have to repay it.

The fund cannot:

  • meet your shortfall in full
  • make up for an absence of funding
  • compensate for a failure to make adequate financial provision for your studies.

Financial support may be available if your circumstances change during the academic year.

Am I eligible to apply and receive help?

To be eligible to apply, you must meet all the following criteria:

  • You're studying at least 25% of an equivalent full-time undergraduate course.
  • You're fully enrolled and attending your course.
  • You satisfy the residence criteria to be classed as a 'home' student for fees and UK Student Finance (both tuition fee loan and maintenance loan).
  • You've applied for the maximum maintenance loan you're entitled to during the 2023/24 academic year. If you haven't applied the maintenance loan on religious grounds, email hardshipfunds@ntu.ac.uk for advice.

To get help from the NTU Undergraduate Support Fund, you must:

  • Submit the application form and all required evidence.
  • Show a shortfall between your annual income and expenditure over the academic year. This means the period that covers term-time and the Christmas and Easter vacations. We'll assess this against the standard hardship fund assessment criteria.

Be aware that our assessment may not match your own calculations.

  • We only allow essential expenditure.
  • We use a combination of standardised figures and caps on expenditure. This ensures fairness and consistency.
  • We often assume certain types of income if we think you can reasonably access it.
  • If you have savings, we'll take these into consideration too.

When can I apply?

You can apply to the Undergraduate Support Fund at any point after the fund opens at the start of the academic year.

We'll assess applications throughout the academic year. You should ensure you apply no later than three or four weeks before your academic year finishes. This allows us the necessary time for us to check and assess your application.

After this fund closes, you may be eligible for support from the Summer Vacation Support Fund.

How do I apply?

You can apply to the Undergraduate Support Fund in three easy steps.

1. Complete an online learning pathway on Blackbullion (first-time applicants only*)

Blackbullion offers courses on different aspects of managing your personal finances. All first-time applicants need to complete one of these online learning pathways as part of the process of applying to the Undergraduate Support Fund.

We have selected some that may be useful to you.

Alternatively, you can choose from any of the pathways in the Blackbullion Library. You must choose a ‘pathway’, not a ‘tool’ or ‘article’.

If you haven't used Blackbullion before, the site will prompt you to set up an account. Once you've done so, you'll be able to access the pathways.

When you complete the pathway, the Blackbullion system will log it. We can then match this against your application once you submit it.

* If you have applied and been assessed for the NTU Undergraduate Hardship Fund in previous years, you should already have completed a Blackbullion module, so this is not an essential requirement for the 2023/24 application process. However, we would encourage students to continue to access the Blackbullion Library for support with budgeting and managing their finances.

2. Prepare and save the required evidence documents ready to upload with the form

Get the following documents ready. Give them a recognisable name and save them in one place. This will make it easier for you to upload them when the time comes.

Find the document upload options in the 'Supporting Evidence' section of the application form. Use them to upload your documents.

Do not email these documents to us in advance. Only upload them securely within the online form. This is for data security reasons. It will also help speed up your application.

Uploading all your documents with the form means your application passes straight to the assessment team. If you don't, your application goes into the queue for chasing missing documents.

You'll need to provide the following six things:

1. One full bank statement from your main account, covering the most recent month.

Your main account is the one we'd expect to see:

  • your student finance being paid into, and
  • your housing costs being paid out of.

The statement should be a PDF document. It must include your:

  • full name
  • bank name
  • sort code
  • account number.

It should also include:

  • detailed transactions, and
  • the starting and ending balances for the month in question.
2. Additional bank statements showing funding going in and rent or mortgage going out

The statement you provide may already include details of:

  • your student finance payment coming into your account, and
  • details of your termly or monthly housing payment going out of your account.

These details may not appear on your most recent statement. If they don't, you must upload copies of additional statements. These extra statements must show this information.

3. Current balances for all other bank accounts in your name

These can be screenshots from online banking. They must clearly show your:

  • balance
  • sort code
  • account number.
4. Your 2023/24 student finance entitlement letter

This must clearly show the amount of maintenance loan you're receiving this academic year.

5. Proof of your housing costs

This shows what housing costs you have to pay each month, term or year. This should be:

  • a copy of your housing contract, or
  • a copy of your mortgage statement, or
  • evidence of board payments to your family.

If you're getting support with housing, you should also include evidence of this. Such support could include:

  • housing benefit
  • the housing element of universal credit.
6. Other evidence relevant to your individual circumstances

Such evidence may include the following.

  • Up-to-date benefit notification letters. These must show your entitlement to all benefits you are receiving. These benefits can include:
    • Universal Credit
    • Housing Benefit
    • Tax Credits
    • Job Seeker's Allowance (JSA)
    • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
    • any carers or disability benefits.
  • In the case of Universal Credit, we'll need award breakdown letters. These must cover the two most recent months.
  • Proof of medical costs, and/or evidence showing you're unable to work alongside your studies.
  • Proof of dependent children who live with you, and any childcare costs you have.
  • Proof of your partner’s income if:
    • you live together as a couple, and
    • you're classed as an independent student by student finance, and
    • your partner is listed on your student finance application.

Complete the 2023/24 NTU Undergraduate Support Fund Application Form

What happens next?

Once we receive your application, we'll check we have all the necessary information.

We'll contact you through your NTU email address if we need:

  • any more information and/or supporting evidence
  • to refer you to our advice team for further discussion of your financial situation.

We'll assess your application more quickly if you have provided all the required information.

Checking and chasing missing information will result in delays in the assessment process.

We may ask you for additional information or evidence. You must supply this within four weeks. If you don't, we'll assume you no longer wish to proceed with your application. If you decide at a later date that you wish to apply, you may need to complete the application process again. This ensures we have the most up-to-date information.

Once your application is complete, we will go through our standard assessment procedure. We'll calculate the shortfall between your annual income and essential expenditure.

If there's a shortfall, we'll use this figure to decide the annual level of support available from the NTU Undergraduate Support Fund. Please note that the fund can only offer a contribution towards any shortfall.

When considering income and expenditure, please be aware of the following.

Income:

  • You must declare actual income from all sources.
  • The figure we use in the assessment may be different to what you declare. We disregard some sources of income but assume others.
  • You must declare any savings. These will count as income available to you.
  • We assume some sources of income. These can include:
    • potential earnings from employment for those who are able to work
    • parental contribution for those not entitled to the maximum student finance
    • certain welfare benefits where there is clear eligibility.

Expenditure:

  • We can only consider essential expenditure.
  • We don't take into account what you spend on tuition fees. The hardship fund is not able to pay for these.
  • To keep things fair, we standardise most living costs in the assessment. This includes things like food, bills and socialising. We do this because they're common to all students.
  • Other living costs can vary from student to student. These costs include things like accommodation, travel, and course costs. We place an appropriate limit on the amounts allowed in the assessment. This ensures costs are reasonable.

When will I hear if I am eligible to receive any money?

We aim to assess applications within 15 working days of the date we receive:

  • your completed application, and
  • all the required evidence to support your application

Please be aware that this may take longer at peak times. How quickly we can assess and pay you will differ if you're referred to us in an emergency situation.

We'll assess your application more quickly if you provide all the required information. Please do so when you initially make your application.

We'll contact you if you don't provide all the required information or evidence. Checking and chasing missing information will result in delays in the assessment process.

Once we've assessed your form, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. The email will notify you of the outcome of your application.

If your application is successful

The email will give details of:

  • how much we're awarding you
  • when and how we'll pay it to you.

If your application is unsuccessful

The email will explain why we haven't granted you an award.

How is the money paid?

The University makes all award payments using NatWest Payit.

If you are eligible to receive an award, your notification email will include details of how to access your payment.

Who do I contact about it?

Have you submitted your NTU Undergraduate Support Fund application yet?

  • If you haven't already applied, email studentmoneyteam@ntu.ac.uk for information. We'll be able to answer questions about eligibility and the application process.
  • If you have applied, email supportfunds@ntu.ac.uk with your query. We'll be able to tell you about your application and the supporting evidence you need to provide.

Want to check the progress of your application?

Please wait at least 15 working days after you have submitted all the required evidence. This allows us to concentrate on assessing applications and getting awards out quickly.

NTU Postgraduate Support Fund for UK home students

You must make financial provision for your postgraduate studies. You need to be able to cover:

  • your fees
  • you living costs.

Start thinking about this well before your course starts.

Our Student Financial Advice Service can support you with this financial planning. Our advisers can help you set out your budget for the year. This will show you, month by month, what money you will have coming in and what expenses you need to meet. You'll be able to see if there are any months where you may not be able to meet your costs. You can then look at your options to cover any gaps.

You may also find it useful to check out our:

Sometimes the unexpected happens. You may be able to apply for support from the NTU Postgraduate Support Fund. This is an amount of money we provide to assist eligible UK home postgraduate students.

You can apply to this fund by completing the 2023/24 NTU Postgraduate Support Fund Application Form.

We urge you to upload all the required evidence with your application. Use the document upload options within the form. This will speed up the assessment of your application. It means we can pass it straight to the assessment team.

Where evidence is missing, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. We'll set out details of what you need to provide, and we'll include a link to a separate upload form for you to submit it. We'll only send this email once, and we'll ask you to provide the additional evidence within two weeks.

Once we've assessed your application, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. The email will notify you of the outcome of your application. If you're eligible for an award, it will give details of when and how you'll receive it.

We usually assess applications within 15 working days of receiving them. That's assuming we've received the fully completed form and all the evidence we need. At peak times, this can take longer.

If you have any queries, please email us.

International Postgraduate Students

If you are an international or EU student, you can only apply to the NTU Postgraduate Support Fund if you are either:

  • a postgraduate Research Student (PGR), or
  • studying on a course that is eligible for the Nottingham Law School Fund.

Other international postgraduate students in short-term financial difficulty will need to contact the International Hardship Fund Team to discuss any further support.

NTU International Hardship Fund

You may be eligible for a small amount of emergency funding to contribute towards living costs if you have a short-term interruption in funding and can show that this will be resolved within a few weeks.

You must be:

  • an international or EU student
  • facing sudden unforeseen financial hardship
  • fully enrolled on a full-time award-bearing course
  • studying here in the UK.

We give priority to students in their final stages of study.

Please be aware there is a limit on the funding available and the fund is intended to offer a small amount for short-term difficulties. We aren't able to support cases of ongoing financial hardship.

The fund does not offer any support with tuition fees.

If you're an international student studying on a Tier 4 or student visa, we may ask you to prove:

  • you made adequate provision for your tuition fee and living costs before coming to the UK,
  • your current financial hardship is due to an unexpected change in your circumstances, and
  • your financial situation will improve within a few weeks.

Once we've assessed your form, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. The email will notify you of the outcome of your application.

The NTU International Hardship fund is now open for 2023/24. Email us for further information and a link to the application form.

NTU Nottingham Law School (NLS) Support Fund

You may be eligible for support from the Nottingham Law School Hardship Fund. You must be on one of these courses:

  • LLM Legal Practice Course (LPC) (full-time or part-time)
  • LLM Barristers Training Course (BTC)
  • Postgraduate Diploma Barristers Training Course (BTC)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Law (PGDL) (full-time and distance learning)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice: SQE 1 Preparation Course — (September start, six months)
  • Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Legal Practice: SQE 1 Preparation Course — (March start, six months)
  • Postgraduate Certificate Advanced Legal Skills: SQU 2 Preparation Course
  • LLM Professional Legal Practice: SQE 1 (full-time)
  • LLM Professional Legal Practice: SQE 1 (distance learning)
  • LLM Advanced Professional Legal Practice: SQE 1 and 2 (full-time)
  • LLM Advanced Professional Legal Practice SQE 1 and 2 Preparation Course (distance learning)
  • LLM Law and Legal Practice: SQE 1 Preparation Course (full-time)
  • LLM Law and Legal Practice: BTC (full-time).

To apply, complete the 2023/24 NTU Postgraduate Support Fund / NLS application form. Access the form by logging into Microsoft Teams using your NTU ID.

Make sure you answer 'yes' to question 8. Give details of which of the above eligible courses you're enrolled on in 2023/24. This will help ensure we can assess your application correctly.

We urge you to upload all the required evidence with your application. Use the document upload options within the form. This will speed up the assessment of your application. It means we can pass it straight to the assessment team. We won't have to put it in the queue for chasing missing documents.

Where evidence is missing, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. We'll set out details of what you need to provide, and we'll include a link to a separate upload form for you to submit it. We'll only send this email once, and we'll ask you to provide the additional evidence within two weeks. Please don't provide your evidence by email.

Once we've assessed your application, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. The email will notify you of the outcome of your application. If you're eligible for an award, it will give details of when and how you'll receive it.

We usually assess applications within 15 working days of receiving them. That's assuming we've received the fully completed form and all the evidence we need. At peak times, this can take longer.

Email supportfunds@ntu.ac.uk for more information.

Further Education Bursary Funds

There are several funds you can apply to if:

  • you're on a Further Education course at our Brackenhurst Campus, and
  • have a low household income.

Further information about these funds can be found in the factsheet below:

Further Education (FE) Bursary Funds 2023/24

Once we've assessed your form, we'll send an email to your NTU email address. The email will notify you of the outcome of your application. If you are eligible for an award, it will give details of when and how this will be paid to you.

If you have any queries, please email us.

Educational grants from trusts and charities

Many trusts and charities offer aid and assistance to students in financial difficulty. You should investigate every possible source of funding. You should also be aware of the relevant application deadlines and eligibility criteria.

Applying to trusts and charities can be a time-consuming process. It requires patience and perseverance. Also, it rarely offers an immediate source of assistance. We urge you to seek advice if your needs are more immediate, so please email us at studentmoneyteam@ntu.ac.uk.

Be sure you fulfil the trust or charity's basic criteria before you make your application. A successful application requires several things to come together well. Here are a few steps you can check to ensure your application is successful:

  • check you meet the criteria of the funder
  • fill out the application form correctly
  • be clear in your supporting statements
  • show that your circumstances match their required criteria
  • make it explicit if you're in one of their stated priority target groups
  • provide all the necessary supporting information and evidence.

NHS Exceptional Support Fund for healthcare students

You may be eligible to apply to the NHS Exceptional Support Fund if you are:

  • studying a healthcare course, and
  • receive funding from the NHS Learning Support Fund, and
  • are experiencing unforeseen financial hardship.

A grant of up to £3,000 per academic year could be available if you have:

  • a shortfall between your income and your day-to-day expenditure, and
  • exhausted all other available means of funding.

Eligible students applying for the NHS Exceptional Support Fund must have:

  • applied to the NTU Undergraduate Discretionary Hardship Fund first, and
  • received the outcome of that application.

See the NHS Exceptional Support Fund page or our Funding NHS courses page for more information.

NTU Summer Vacation Support Fund for  UK home undergraduate students

The Summer Vacation Support Fund offers limited assistance to students who are unable to work and have no money for immediate living costs during the University's summer vacation. You may be eligible if:

  • You're unable to take up paid employment due to illness or disability.
  • You're a lone parent with dependent children and you are struggling financially. This is particularly relevant in periods when you have little or no entitlement to welfare benefits.
  • You're a care leaver, a former foyer resident, estranged or bereaved, and under the age of 25.
  • Your availability to take up paid employment is limited because you have an extension to complete university work during the summer vacation. This must be following a successful NEC submission and includes:
    • exams
    • assignments

Applications for this fund will open in May 2024.

  • Last updated: 06/03/2024