Student Gateway

Telephone +44 (0)28 9097 2767
Fax :         +44 (0)28 9097 2856
Email : IncomeOffice@qub.ac.uk

What is the Support Fund?

The Support Fund is used to provide discretionary financial help for students who get into financial difficulty during their course. 

Who can apply?  

All full-time and part-time (50% of equivalent full-time course) home undergraduates and postgraduate students can apply.  

Students who are salaried Health Service employees are not eligible to apply to the Support Fund.

Any eligible student who has a particular financial need can apply.  However, priority will be given to the following groups:

• Students with children (especially lone parents)
• Mature students whose return to full-time study has resulted in financial hardship
• Students who have entered higher education from care
• Students with disabilities (especially where the Disabled Student Allowance is unable to meet particular costs)
• Students incurring additional costs whilst caring for a disabled/ill relative
• Students with financial responsibilities towards their own child/children in the custody of another person
• Students incurring maternity costs
• Students who have been burgled and lost personal items, such as clothes, books, etc, and can supply a police report
• Students who wish to apply for funding towards towards the cost of a diagnostic assessment. (Please contact Disability Services or Income & Student Finance Office for a separate application form.)

To be eligible for an award from the Support Fund, undergraduates must have taken out the maximum Tuition Fee Loan and Maintenance Loan to which they are entitled. 

Postgraduates must demonstrate that they have organised sufficient funding for their course.  The Support Fund is a discretionary fund and can only be used as a top up to funding that has already been obtained.  It should not be viewed as a way to fund a course.

Hardship Fund

Students who are not eligible for Support Funds, for example, non UK students, can apply to the University’s Hardship Fund.  

There is a smaller amount of money in the Hardship Fund so circumstances must be exceptional for a payment to be made.  The application process for the Hardship Fund is the same as that for the Support Fund and applications from students who are not eligible for the Support Fund are automatically referred to the Hardship Fund.

Application Forms

 Application forms are available from the Student Advice Centre, Level 2, Student's Union or click Student Support Fund Application

Completing the Application Form

You must provide evidence of your financial circumstances.  Failure to provide the evidence requested will delay your application. 

You must provide your QUB email address. Check your QUB email account regularly after you submit your application.

Prior to Submission of Application

If you require any assistance completing your application form please contact:

Miss Connie Craig – Student Adviser
2^nd Floor, Students’ Union
Telephone: 028 9097 1049
Email: connie.craig@qub.ac.uk

Connie is available to discuss any financial queries you may have and appointments can be made to meet with her by using the contact number and email address above.  

Notification of Committee Meeting Decision

Students will be advised by email of the Committee’s decision.  The email will be sent to the students email address provided on the application form.  No decision of the committee will be discussed or disclosed over the phone.

Please note the amount of the award you received in previous years should NOT be used to estimate the amount of award you may receive for the academic year 2011-12. 

Request a Review 

Students have the right to request a review of any decision of the Committee.  Letters should be addressed to the Chairperson of the Support Fund Committee and returned to the Income and Student Finance Office.

Completed Forms 

Completed application forms with all documentation should be forwarded to or handed in at:

Income and Student Finance
Student Guidance Centre
University Road
BT7 1NN 

Students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible.

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