The Hardship Fund provides financial support for students to help them remain on their higher education course, and can help alleviate unexpected financial hardship.
Payments cannot be used to help with the cost of tuition fees.
Support is normally in the form of a non-repayable grant.
Groups of students who are prioritised include:
This is available to full-time and part-time ‘Home’ students who are on either undergraduate or postgraduate programmes. If you are considered eligible for the fund you will need to have accessed all other means of support available to you, i.e. applied for your full student loan. Full details of eligibility are available on the application form and guidance notes.
You can pick up an application form at the UCO Reception Desk or request one by emailing info@uco.oldham.ac.uk and requesting a form be sent to you.
Applications will be assessed under an additional needs method that looks at the difference between reasonable expenditure and expected income. Applications will be treated as ‘non-standard’ if you have unforeseen circumstances that may require emergency financial help.
Please explain in your personal statement why you are applying to the Fund. You must enclose up to date documents to support your case, i.e. up to date bank statements, rent statement, benefit statements, Student Finance letters and payment schedule, if applicable, and any other documentation that are relevant to your circumstances that you would like the Assessment Team to take into account.
We encourage students to apply early as the fund has limited resources, and applications are dealt with until funds are exhausted.