Financial support

If you are struggling financially or facing hardship as a result of the current situation related to Covid-19. The grant is aimed at those students who have lost an income stream on which they rely and cannot be obtained from any other source, for example as a result of loss of employment or a reduction in hours and hence income. If this is a situation you find yourself in, you may be able to access some interim financial support in the form of an Exceptional Circumstances Grant.

Find out more here.

1. Shop around for a student bank account. Look for ones that are 0% on overdrafts.
2. Try our budget calculator to get a real understanding of your cash flow.
3. Ask yourself: Do I need it? Is it cheaper somewhere else? Will I really use it?
4. Be thrifty. Don’t buy new books – borrow or buy second hand. 
5. Invest in a reusable water bottle and fill up from the water fountains around campus.
6. Learn to cook some basic cheap meals.
7. Make a packed lunch every day instead of buying expensive lunches and meal deals. 
8. Don’t commit to anything long term when you first get to university, like gym memberships and mobile phone contracts. 
9. Shop around for the best deals on everything you buy.
10. Start looking for part-time work before starting university.

Child Grant

£200 per child is available to undergraduate UK students with an annual residual household income of £25,000 or less and who have children aged 16 or under (or up to 19 years if in full-time education) and are receiving Child Benefit. Find out more.

Disabled Students Allowance

Disabled Students Allowance helps to pay for any extra study-related costs that you might incur at University because of a disability. If you need a computer or laptop, we'll contribute £200 towards the cost. And we can help you apply too. Find out more here.

Northern Dairies Educational Trust

There are limited funds available for local, EU, and international students from developing countries who are facing unexpected or exceptional financial difficulties, through the Northern Dairies Educational Trust. 

If you are an EU or International student facing financial hardship you should contact the Financial Support Team by visiting my.hull.ac.uk and explain your circumstances. If you're eligible we'll send you details on how to apply.

If you're an International student and you would like to discuss how your financial situation may affect your further stay in the UK please contact our Immigration Advisers on immigration@hull.ac.uk. 

Sports Excellence Representation Programme

Our vision is to nurture and develop student sport at the University - creating exciting opportunities for our students to compete in local, regional, national and international sporting competitions. We can offer funding to help with the costs of participating in elite-level competitions.

Funding is available to any student or staff member preparing to compete in a notable sporting event. To find out more, email hullsport@hull.ac.uk with details of the competition and what steps you've taken to get there.

Young adult carer, care leaver or estranged - Humber Grant 

If you’re aged under 25 and are a carer, a care leaver or are estranged from your family, we offer a wide range of support to ensure you have the best possible University experience. Find out more.

The Hardship Support Fund is a limited, means-tested fund for UK/Home and EU students (who receive maintenance funding from Student Finance England) and are experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties. To apply you must be enrolled and have received the first instalment of your student funding (if applicable). It is expected that you have accessed all financial support available to you prior to applying to the Fund.

Your eligible income and expenditure over the academic year are calculated and if there is a deficit you will normally be made an award towards this. Applications will be submitted for checks to ensure you meet both internal and external guidelines of the Hardship Support Fund and review evidence before a decision is made. Any award made is a grant and does not need to be repaid.

Find out if you're eligible and make an application here.

If you have any questions, please email fst@hull.ac.uk.

Summer Fund

The Summer Fund comes under the Hardship Support Fund, and provides support specifically for the summer, covering the period from the end of your academic year up to enrolment week of the next year (except for those students eligible due to resits who will be assessed for 4 weeks only).

The Fund is mainly for non-final year students:

• with dependents
• unable to work due to illness or disability and where other benefits are unavailable
• re-sitting or re-taking elements of their course (assessed over the resit period for 4 weeks only)
• eligible for the Humber Grant
• with exceptional financial circumstances, no other means of support or are unable to return home over the summer

Short term solutions

If you don't receive your student funding on time, you may be eligible to apply for a short-term loan. You will need to supply evidence of your student funding application, four weeks of up-to-date bank statements and evidence to support the request for your loan.

Only UK and EU students who are eligible to receive maintenance funding from Student Finance England can apply.

Find out more and apply by visiting MyJourney.

To find out more, visit the central hub desk on the 1st floor of Student Central or call 01482 462222.

Help with travel and food costs

Bus cards are available for students facing short term difficulties with travel costs due to unforeseen circumstances. We can also provide food vouchers and hardship packages for students in immediate financial difficulty. Students will need to provide four weeks’ up-to-date bank statements. Food vouchers, bus cards and hardship packages may be considered alongside, and as an alternative to a short term loan. This help is available to UK, EU and International students.

Contact fst@hull.ac.uk to apply.

Discretionary funds

We have other limited funds available for students facing difficult or unforeseen financial circumstances, for example, homelessness, relationship breakdown or family bereavement.

No matter how large or small your debt problem is, StepChange can help. They will look at your financial situation and give you free and confidential debt advice and recommend debt solutions to suit your situation. 

For local debt advice, contact the Citizens Advice Bureau. They are based at the Wilson Centre on Alfred Gelder Street and can offer face-to-face support, as well as advice by email or telephone. Find out more here.

If you have queries about benefits, or would like a free benefits check, the Hull University Advice Centre can help. Get in touch.