Sources of Additional Financial Support
There are a number of websites and services which offer excellent advice for students coming to University for the first time (much of which is relevant to students throughout their studies). While it is not our place to recommend one such site or service over another, we have found this one to be comprehensive. Additionally, the University of Oxford provides specific advice on this, here.
All students are advised to work out a budget to help prevent financial difficulties arising in the first place. For guidance on the likely costs of life at Oxford, please see the University’s guidance on living costs here.
If financial difficulties are anticipated, discuss this with someone in College early and do not let the situation reach crisis proportions.
The College and the University between them have a number of options for helping with funding, which include:
The University Hardship Fund
- This fund aims to assist students who experience unexpected financial difficulties due to circumstances which could not have been predicted at the start of your course. Again, eligibility criteria are available on the website.
- In Michaelmas and Hilary terms, applications to this fund should be submitted to the College Finance Office by Monday of 2nd Week, so that the Bursar can complete Part B. The application deadline is Friday of 3rd Week, and the Committee meets on Thursday of 6th Week.
- In Trinity Term, applications should be submitted to the College Finance Office by Monday of 0th Week, so that the Bursar can
- complete Part B. The application deadline is Friday of 1st Week, and the Committee meets on Thursday of 4th Week.
- Further information can be found here.
The University’s Care Experienced and Estranged Student Bursary
- Eligibility for this fund is wider than those legally defined as ‘estranged’ by Student Finance, and it is open to first-degree UK undergraduate, PGCE, and Graduate Entry Medicine students studying without the support of family
- The Bursary is worth up to £1,500 per year (for students who started their course in or before 2019/20) or up to £3,000 (for students who started their course in or after 2020-21)
- Further information can be found here.
The College’s Student Support Committee
(Financial hardship assistance)
- This committee considers applications from St Hugh’s College students for assistance with unforeseen financial hardship.
- The Committee meets on Wednesday of 6th week, each term. Applications must be submitted by Monday of 4th week.
- Urgent applications may be considered by circulation.
The Barbinder Watson Fund
- The Barbinder Watson Fund is available to all St Hugh’s College graduate students, by application. The fund supports research work and the presentation of the results of research work. Priority will be given to those presenting the results of their research at conferences as a paper or poster and to those carrying out fieldwork or archival and research work away from Oxford which directly supports the research work for their degree course. Applications to attend conferences relevant to a graduate student’s degree course will also be considered.
- Applications for The Barbinder Watson Fund should be made via the online form, here.
The Biological Sciences (Medical Electives) Grant Fund
- This fund is open to all St Hugh’s College clinical medics for assistance in meeting the costs of elective travel (up to £800).
- The fund also meets the cost of a stethoscope for St Hugh’s College medical students beginning their clinical course.
- Applications for The Biological Sciences Fund should be made via the online form, here.
College Year Abroad Grants
- Undergraduate students of Modern Languages and Joint Schools in good academic standing can expect to receive some financial help from the College to support their activities during the Year Abroad, if approved by their Tutor. Applications should be made using the online form; they should include detailed costings and a statement of proposed activities. Applications will then be forwarded by the Office to the relevant Tutor for approval. The Year Abroad Grant is up to £800.
- Applications for College Year Abroad Grants should be made via the online form, here.
