Hardship Fund

The University of Essex recognises that some students are experiencing financial hardship at unprecedented levels. This fund is established to provide discretionary financial assistance to undergraduate and postgraduate students, regardless of fee status. You can apply for help from the fund at any time during the academic year within the opening and closing dates.

The fund is in place to support students who have had an unexpected, exceptional change in their financial circumstances that has resulted in short-term, financial difficulty that could not have been reasonably expected. We will not consider an award for students applying for funding to support their course tuition fees.

The Hardship fund for 2024-2025 will open on the 11 November 2024.

If you start your course in January 2024, you are still eligible to apply for the 2023-24 January starter Hardship Fund. The application deadline for this fund is 13 December 2024

Full details

Please read the full terms and conditions for your entry year before applying for a university fund. They contain important information about eligibility, evidence required and how to apply.

Hardship Fund terms and conditions 2024-25 October Starter

Hardship Fund terms and conditions 2023-24 January Starter (.pdf)

How to apply

All funding applications must be submitted via Blackbullion, please see instructions below:

Read the terms and conditions at the bottom of this page and check you meet the eligibility criteria before submitting an application
You’ll need to submit your bank statements as part of your application so we can assess your financial difficulty. Students with UK bank accounts should read the Blackbullion guidance on Open Banking which is a fast a secure way to upload your statements. Students who chose not to use Open Baking should watch the video before submitting bank statements manually (86% of applications are delayed due to incorrectly submitted bank statements).

Create an account with Blackbullion using your Essex email account or login if you already have an account. (Note: Make sure you select the ‘University student’ option, rather than ‘applicant’ when you register) Don’t worry if your course is not listed on the application form. You can still register and apply without selecting a course
Click the ‘Funds’ tab and select ‘Hardship Fund’ button (Ensure that you select the correct fund based on the start date of your course, either in October or January)
Read the guidance, follow the instructions to complete the online application form and submit all the required evidence as outlined on the guidance document. Please also watch the video guide below before submitting any bank statements
Submit your application and evidence

Other support

The University and other external organisations offer financial support to get you through your studies. Check out other ways of funding your studies:

The University is offering a Digital Support Fund for students who are experiencing financial difficulty, to contribute to the costs of equipment required to support University studies.

If you are in need of urgent financial assistance, you can apply for a Hardship Fund Loan offered by the Students' Union. They also provide advice on financial support (including students at risk of homelessness).
You might want to check if you’re eligible for a scholarship/bursary or other financial support.

The University offers a range of additional welfare support and guidance.