Hardship Fund

To support students experiencing financial difficulties due to COVID-19, we are able to support students with a food parcel delivery service through the Covid-19 Food Parcel scheme.

The maximum award via the scheme (unless in special circumstances) will be three home delivered food parcels. Each parcel provides students with one weeks’ worth of food.

Criteria and Evidence

The criteria and evidence for food parcels include:

• Evidence of household income may be requested
• The application form includes a brief 400-word max statement, making the case for receipt of the food parcel award. Additional evidence can be uploaded/ provided and may be requested.

Eligibility

In order to apply, you should be fully registered at The University of Buckingham for the current academic year.

How to apply

• Please check you meet the eligibility criteria above.
• Complete the application form online, with all of the required evidence. Please upload a Student Finance Assessment Letter stating household income; Student loans Company Confirmation of Support for fees and living costs; PDF evidence of financial need. This must include x3 months bank statements.
• Students’ First staff will go through your application form and evidence with you if required.

Incomplete applications will not be accepted. You will be asked to resubmit the form once your application/ evidence is complete. Your application will be considered by the Head of Students’ First. We appreciate this is a time-sensitive issue and will aim to process any requests as quickly as possible.

The Hardship Fund has been introduced to support current students who are experiencing financial difficulties, due to unforeseen circumstance. The maximum award will be £500 (unless in special circumstances).

The fund cannot however be used to support payment of tuition fees. For students seeking support with tuition fees, please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships page for details of support that may be available to you.

Eligibility

This fund is available to students in the following groups who are experiencing or expect to experience severe financial difficulties during the academic year:

• UK full time undergraduate students who receive fees/ maintenance support from Student Finance;
• UK full time postgraduate students who can show they have made reasonable provision towards their tuition fees and living costs;
• International/EU full time students who are able to demonstrate immediate, emergency need for funds to support their studies at Buckingham will also be eligible to apply.

Criteria

The criteria for awards include:

• emergencies and family/ personal issues affecting studies (but not linked to payment of tuition fees);
• issues linked to accommodation deposits/advance payments (but not payment of arrears).

Criteria will also be linked to your ability to succeed in your studies at Buckingham – evidence that a small payment will help retention and success. The fund will be focused on UK students but emergency cases from International/ EU students will also be considered.

Evidence

Evidence for awards include:

• be fully registered at The University of Buckingham for the current academic year;
• have taken all support available to you via Student Finance England (or equivalent) or Postgraduate Loans from the Student Loans Company (SLC) where applicable;
• have taken all other funding that you may be entitled to, including welfare benefits and tax credits;
• household income e.g. via production of a Student Loans Company letter assessment;
• additional evidence can be uploaded/ provided and may be requested;
• a brief 400 word max statement, making the case for the award;
• if requested, show that across the academic year, you have/ will have sufficient funds to cover your full tuition fees, plus at least £5,000 towards living costs.

How to apply

• Please check you meet the eligibility criteria above;
• Complete the application form online, with all the required evidence;
• Upload a Student Finance Assessment Letter stating household income; Student loans Company Confirmation of Support for fees and living costs; PDF evidence of financial need. This must include x3 months bank statements.
• Students’ First staff will go through your application form and evidence with you if required.

Please note incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please check you have included all the required evidence to avoid delays in assessing your application.

Your application will be considered by the Hardship Committee, comprising the PVC Student Experience, the Head of Students’ First, the Partnership and Outreach Manager and the Head of the Student and Sports Union.

An appeal against the decision of the Hardship Committee will be considered by the Chair of the Scholarships Committee.