Financial Assistance
Financial Assistance is available to students facing current or imminent financial difficulty that could not reasonably have been foreseen. Awards are intended to support essential living costs and ensure students can continue their studies, course fee funding shortfall is not eligible for financial assistance.
Eligibility Criteria
You may be eligible to apply if all of the following apply:
- You are a current St Hugh’s undergraduate or postgraduate, and not suspended.
- You are facing unexpected financial difficulty (e.g. sudden changes in income, unexpected costs, unforeseen personal circumstances).
- The expenses relate directly to essential living or study-related costs, such as accommodation, food, personal items, or essential academic expenses.
- The level of support requested is within the normal award range and proportionate to your needs.
- The support requested, combined with your other income/savings, will leave you in a viable financial position to complete your course.
You must also demonstrate in your application:
- How your financial situation has changed since starting your course
- Why the change was unexpected and could not reasonably have been predicted
- How you plan to fund the remainder of your course, including future years
- For students in early years or on 9–12 month courses: how your financial position has changed after beginning your studies
The Committee understands that unexpected financial difficulties can affect anyone, and no moral judgments are made about a student’s financial circumstances.
Award Amounts
- Typical award range: Up to £3,000
- Larger awards may be made in exceptional circumstances
- Decisions depend on individual needs, circumstances, and fund availability
Who Is Not Normally Eligible
- Non-matriculated and suspended students
- Funding requests for course fees
- Students with no demonstrated funding shortfall
Vacation Residence
Undergraduates who need to remain in residence for academic or approved reasons and cannot meet the cost may apply for financial assistance, provided they meet the financial assistance eligibility criteria.
Application Process
- Guidance will be circulated by the Bursary Office at the beginning of each academic term
- Apply by Monday of 4th Week each term
- You may be invited to meet with the College Accountant to discuss your application and circumstances
- Applications are anonymised before review
- Student Financial Support Committee meets in 6th week
- Decisions are usually communicated by end of 7th Week
Emergency Applications
Emergency cases may be considered by the committee via correspondence only if:
- the situation could not reasonably have been foreseen, and
- waiting until the next scheduled meeting would cause serious impact
Interim awards may be made, with final decisions at the next Committee meeting.
Please click here for the application form.
