This is a discretionary fund that can provide financial assistance for registered ROI, EU & International students who have exhausted all other options of financial support and are facing difficulties meeting daily living expenses, due to the cost of attending University.
How to apply for the fund
1. Documentary Evidence
- Visit our Documentary Evidence page for everything that is required to support your application.
- Students must be in good academic standing, and an email sent directly from their Course Director, to sma@ulster.ac.uk confirming this, must be received before applications can be fully processed.
- International students must provide a copy of their Banking letter confirming they meet the Tier 4 Visa requirements for studying in the UK.
First year UG & PG students cannot apply for financial hardship support until semester two of their course.
2. Create a Personal Statement
All students are required to complete a personal statement including information on the following (max 300 words):
- Funding is in place to cover the full cost of your Tuition Fees (if not eligible for a Tuition Fee loan).
- Clear evidence that sufficient funds were available at the start of the course, to pay daily living costs for the duration of study.
- The circumstances surrounding your current financial situation and what steps you have taken to try to rectify the situation.
- How any financial support you may receive would be used (please note this is a one-off award which cannot be considered a substitute for a regular income).
- The Bank account number and Sort Code that any award granted can be paid into.
3. Send your application
It is imperative that you submit the correct evidence to support your application.
Attach ALL documentary evidence to an email (as attachments) and email to sma@ulster.ac.uk
Criteria for application
- We can only accept one application per academic year
- You must be a registered ROI, EU or International Ulster University student studying in Northern Ireland.
- You must be in good academic standing (as confirmed by your course director).
- You must show (with supporting evidence) that you have made arrangements for payment of tuition fees and daily living costs for the duration of your course. (ROI & EU students must have taken the full Tuition Fee Loan available to them through SFEU).
- Provide evidence that you have exhausted all other sources of income, for example, interest free student overdraft, student loans, grants, bursaries, assistance from family, savings and part-time earnings.
The fund is not for
- meeting the cost of tuition fees
- maintaining a student's lifestyle
- those showing evidence of gambling/betting
- those showing evidence of excessive spending
If you receive an award
- this will be a one-off payment, and is not a substitute for a regular income
- it is your responsibility to put measures in place to avoid the same situation occurring again.
For further guidance and support with managing your money, visit our Budgeting and Money Management pages.