Money emergencies and hardship funds

Things go wrong: a payment is delayed, a laptop dies before a deadline, a family situation changes overnight. Students who get through money emergencies are not the ones who never have them; they are the ones who ask for help early and know where to go.

First 24 hours: a calm emergency plan

• Stop and list the facts: how much money you have in every account, what is due in the next two weeks (rent, phone, food) and when the next money arrives.
• Protect the essentials first: a roof, food, and anything that would cost more if missed, such as rent. MoneyHelper suggests dealing with costly debts first while keeping up minimum payments on others.
• Pause non-essential spending immediately: subscriptions, takeaways, shopping.
• Tell someone: a parent, a trusted relative, or your university's student money or advice service. Do not wait until the rent is overdue.
• Do not reach for a payday loan, a loan shark or a 'quick cash' offer online. The next lesson explains why.

University hardship funds: what they are

• Many universities have a hardship fund: usually a grant, not a loan, for students facing unexpected money problems. MoneyHelper notes these funds could help you afford to stay in education.
• Example: the University of the Arts London's Hardship Fund (2026/27) is a means-tested grant that does not need to be repaid, covers living costs but not tuition fees, and makes decisions within 20 working days of a complete application.
• Example: the University of Greenwich's International Hardship Fund (2026/27) is for international fee-paying students and EU students not receiving a maintenance loan, pays up to GBP 1,000 per academic year, and covers unforeseen short-term costs such as accommodation, food, essential technology and travel.
• Greenwich calls its fund 'a safety net for students in financial difficulty, not their main source of support'. Funds are limited and rules differ at every university.
• Common conditions include proving you planned realistic funding before you started, having very little money in your accounts (Greenwich requires less than GBP 500 across all accounts, at home and in the UK), and providing evidence such as bank statements or receipts.

Extra steps for international students

• UKCISA advises telling your university as soon as possible and speaking to the international student advice team before seeking other financial help, because some options could affect your immigration permission.
• If tuition fees are the problem, UKCISA suggests asking whether you can delay payments or spread them over a longer period. Never ignore a fee invoice: unpaid fees could endanger your student status.
• Some charities and trusts give small grants, typically GBP 200 to GBP 500, often only to students near the end of their course.
• UKCISA warns that on a Student visa you must not claim any benefit classed as a 'public fund', whatever your hardship.
• If your embassy or a home-country sponsor might help, UKCISA suggests contacting them, ideally after speaking with an adviser.

Applying well

• Read the fund's guidance first and gather evidence before you start: bank statements, tenancy agreement, receipts, and a short explanation of what changed.
• Write clearly and honestly: what happened, when, how much you need and for what, and how you will manage afterwards.
• Apply as soon as the window opens; some funds open and close at set dates and money can run out.
• Missing evidence delays decisions, so check your application against the list before submitting.

Look after yourself too

• Mind explains that money worries can affect your mental health, and poor mental health can make managing money harder. It can become a cycle.
• If money stress is affecting sleep, study or mood, speak to your university wellbeing or counselling service as well as the money advice team. The Mental Health module explains how to get support.
• Build a small buffer once things settle. MoneyHelper suggests aiming over time for an emergency fund in an instant-access account.