This policy outlines the criteria and process for students to apply for hardship funding. The aim is to provide financial support to students experiencing urgent and unforeseen short term financial difficulties that may prevent them from attending University and continuing their studies.
Eligibility Criteria
Students may apply for hardship funding if they meet the following conditions:
- They are currently enrolled at University Centre Sparsholt.
- They are unexpectedly experiencing an immediate and serious financial challenge, that is short term, and likely to affect their ability to attend and continue their course.
- They have explored all other reasonable sources of financial support (e.g., student loans, bursaries, part-time work).
Hardship funding is open to all HE students, including full-time, part-time, and international students. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Available Support
- Students can apply for a one-time payment of up to £500
- This payment is intended to address urgent, unforseen and short term financial issues (e.g., travel to university, required course materials). It cannot be used to pay for student loans or debt to the organisation such as tuition or accommodation fees.
- Normally, students may only receive hardship funding once during their course. In exceptional cases, further support may be considered.
Application Process
1. Complete the Application Form: Students must complete the Hardship Funding Application Form, available from degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk or by clicking here.
2. Provide Supporting Evidence: Students should provide evidence of their financial situation (e.g., bank statements, evidence of unexpected costs).
3. Submit the Application: Applications can be submitted via email or in person to degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk.
Decision Making Process
- Decisions are made by the Dean of Higher Education with input from either the Assistant Principal or the Senior Curriculum Leader.
- Applications are assessed fairly and confidentially, considering individual circumstances known to the panel.
- Decisions will normally be communicated within 10 working days of application submission.
Appeals
If a student wishes to appeal a decision, they may do so in writing within 10 working days of receiving the outcome using the UCS Appeals policy.
Confidentiality and Data Protection
All applications are treated confidentially. Personal data will be handled in accordance with the institutional Data Protection Policy.
Support with this Policy
If you have queries with regards to accessing the application form or with the process, please contact degrees@sparsholt.ac.uk. For more general support resulting from your immediate situation, please contact wellbeing.