Registry

**UK Students Apply for the Discretionary Fund, not the Emergency Hardship Fund**

**THIS FUND WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY 27TH MAY AND WILL BE REPLACED BY A SUMMER FUND, WHICH WILL OPERATE FROM 1ST JUNE - 31ST JULY.**

Important Information – Please Read in Full

In 2021/22, the Scottish Government has provided funds to the University of Glasgow, which are available to support EU and International students.  This is supplemented by the University of Glasgow Hardship Fund.  Our focus is to assist students who are in immediate and unexpected hardship.

The Emergency Hardship Fund is an emergency fund for students experiencing financial difficulty, due to an unexpected incident or set of circumstances and/or the COVID-19 pandemic.  Students who are unable to secure employment to help fund their studies may also be eligible for support.

Unfortunately, the Emergency Hardship Fund does not provide scholarship funding and cannot enable students who have not made adequate financial plans to embark on a course of study

Any funding awarded from the Emergency Hardship Fund will be limited in nature, cannot meet all needs, and is not intended to be a primary source of income for any student.

The Emergency Hardship Fund cannot compensate for loss of earnings or fraud.  We cannot provide any support towards tuition fees. The Hardship Fund can only assist with basic living costs (typically food and rent).

Please clarify your reasons for applying on the Personal Statement section of your application.  The Personal Statement is an important part of the application and assessment processes.

Eligibility

To apply for the Emergency Hardship Fund, you must:

• Be an EU or International student.
• Be fully registered for the current academic year, at undergraduate degree level or above.  (Short Courses, Upskilling and undergraduate certificate students are not eligible).
• Be able to provide clear evidence of the financial plans made to fund your studies.
• Be able to provide clear evidence of an unforeseen incident which has directly impacted your financial plans.
• Be able to provide clear evidence of how your living costs are paid, from all bank accounts held in your name, as well as your partner/spouse’s bank accounts.

Students who do not provide evidence to show how their studies are to be funded cannot be supported by the fund.

Who is not eligible?

• UK students, unless specifically advised to apply by a member of the Financial Aid Team.
• Students studying below undergraduate degree level, such as Short Courses and undergraduate certificate students.
• Students studying an Upskilling course.
• Students who have not made adequate financial plans to fund their studies.
• Students who do not provide evidence to show how they are funding their studies.
• Students who cannot clearly evidence an unforeseen event which has directly impacted their original funding plans.
• Students who have adequate personal or family savings or other funds available to fund their studies.

Students registered on the following basis are not eligible to apply for the funds:

• Erasmus Incoming
• Exchange In
• Reassessment of Dissertation
• Sabbatical
• Visiting In

Emergency Hardship Fund - What support is available?

The Emergency Hardship Fund may assist students meeting the basic eligibility criteria above with living costs (typically food and rent) only.

We are unable to support the following requests:

• Requests for support with hotel quarantine costs.
• Requests for support or compensation towards accommodation or other costs which you have already paid.
• Requests for support with tuition fee costs or compensation for fees paid.
• Requests to compensate for loss of income within the family/household.
• Requests to compensate for cancelled travel.
• Requests to compensate for any costs that will be met via other means such as insurance, refunds etc.
• Requests to compensate for funds lost via fraud.

Please note the Emergency Hardship Fund cannot assist directly with a laptop purchase.  If you cannot afford a laptop, you should request a laptop via the Laptop Loan Scheme.

Supporting Documents Guidance – Important, Please Read

Please take the time required to collate all supporting documents as separate, clearly labelled PDF files before applying.

All supporting documents must be saved and attached to your application as separate, clearly labelled PDFs.  For example:

• 1 Current Account Transactions PDF
• 1 Savings Account PDF
• 1 Proof of Seeking Employment PDF
• 1 Scholarship Award Letter PDF
• 1 Proof of Unforeseen Emergency Situation PDF

There are various online tools to assist with combining documents to a single PDF e.g. www.ilovepdf.com 

There are various online tools to reduce file size, if you are having difficulty attaching to an email e.g. https://www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html

Please do not submit any supporting document as multiple files e.g. individual bank statement pages as separate images.  Applications containing these will not be processed.

Documents cannot be added to an application after initial submission. Supporting documents sent separately from applications will be deleted, unless specifically requested by a member of the Financial Aid Team.

Applications with supporting documents missing or not meeting the detailed supporting documents requirements will not be processed.

Rejected applicants will be invited to reapply and will move to the back of the processing queue upon resubmission.

Required Supporting Documents – Important, Please Read

Bank Statement(s) (including spouse/partner if cohabiting)

• Mandatory for all
• Statements must demonstrate all monthly income and expenditure. Applications including limited income and expenditure will not be considered.
• Students must also provide spouse/partner’s bank statements when co-habiting.
• Document must show the last 30 days transactions from the date of application for all accounts held in your name (and your partner/spouse’s name where applicable).
• Online statements and transaction lists are acceptable. Excel spreadsheets and word documents are not.
• Bank statements must be highlighted clearly to match income, expenditure and debt on your application form.
• Food and social costs do not require to be highlighted on bank statements.
• Transfers between accounts must be highlighted and clearly explained in your Personal Statement.
• Out of date bank statements and statements that are not highlighted/annotated appropriately will be rejected.

Proof of Funding

• Mandatory for all Applications will not be considered without proof of funding.
• You must provide evidence of how your studies are being funded e.g. scholarship award letter, proof of savings etc.

Proof of Seeking Employment in the UK

• You must provide evidence of any jobs you have applied for as a student in the UK e.g. offer of employment, notice of unsuccessful job application.
• Mandatory for all Applications will not be considered without proof of accommodation costs.
• Tenancy agreement should be current and show your name, property address, dates of agreement and monthly costs.
• Annual mortgage statement or a letter from provider confirming your name, address, and monthly payments. An amount on a bank statement itself is not acceptable.
• If you are a sub-tenant and do not have a formal lease agreement, please provide a letter from your landlord.

Tenancy Agreement/Mortgage Statement

Proof of Unforeseen Emergency Situation

• Mandatory for all Applications for emergency support will not be considered without proof of an unforeseen emergency.
• Check you are eligible to apply.
• Ensure you have completed registration; we cannot consider non-registered students. 
• Collate all supporting documents as individual PDFs.
• Complete Hardship Fund Application Form (complete all sections).
• Sign Student Declaration and Privacy Notice (application form).
• Submit application.

How to Apply

Please read Supporting Documents Guidance and Required Supporting Documents before applying.

If you have any difficulty with the application process or form, please get in touch for assistance - hardshipfund@glasgow.ac.uk 

Emergency Hardship Fund (EU and International Students) Application Form

You should be able to complete the application form when it is opened via Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Microsoft Edge.  The application form is not compatible with Firefox.

If you have any problems opening and completing the application form, you may require Adobe Reader or similar software.  Adobe Reader DC is available to download for free:  https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

If you are having issues with check/tick boxes on Adobe, please read:  Student Guidance for Adobe

Please answer all questions and submit your application form and all supporting documents as separate PDF attachments in a single email from your student email account to:  hardshipfund@glasgow.ac.uk  

There are various online tools to assist with converting documents to PDF e.g. www.ilovepdf.com 

There are various online tools to reduce file size, if you are having difficulty attaching to an email e.g. https://www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html

Please do not provide documents as zip files, or shared documents.

The following applications will not be processed:

• Applications submitted before your course has begun.
• Applications not submitted as PDFs.
• Applications with missing/unsuitable supporting documents.
• Applications without clearly labelled attachments.
• Applications with individual documents attached as multiple files e.g. bank statement as 3 attachments instead of 1 PDF
• Applications from personal email accounts
• Applications sent over multiple emails.

Applications will be processed as quickly as possible however this can take upwards of 4 weeks during busy periods such as the beginning of term.

Appeals

If your application has been unsuccessful, you can submit an appeal for your application to be reviewed.  Only complete applications which included all required supporting documents can be reviewed under the appeals process.

To appeal the outcome of your application, email the relevant application mailbox (see How to Apply), explaining in detail why you feel your original application meets the eligibility criteria above.  You can also provide any additional information and evidence you feel are relevant to your application.  Please mark your email as high importance and enter Hardship Fund Application Appeal as your email subject.

Appeals will be considered by the Financial Aid Team and the outcome of your appeal will be confirmed via email within 10 working days of receipt.

**EU and International Students Apply for the Emergency Hardship Fund, not the Discretionary Fund**

**THIS FUND WILL CLOSE ON FRIDAY 27TH MAY AND WILL BE REPLACED BY A SUMMER FUND, WHICH WILL OPERATE FROM 1ST JUNE - 31ST JULY.**

Complete applications can take upwards of 4 weeks to process during busy periods however we will process all applications as quickly as possible.

Applications for support with childcare costs and from those with early course start dates will be prioritised.

Nursing and Midwifery students can apply for support using the Discretionary & Chidcare Fund application form.  Successful applicants will be supported via the Nursing and Midwifery Discretionary Fund.

Important Information

The Discretionary & Childcare Funds are available to provide support towards the living costs of eligible UK students, during their studies.

Funds are limited and we advise students to submit completed applications (including all supporting documents) as soon as possible after the start of the academic year.

Please clarify your reasons for applying on the Personal Statement section of your application.  The Personal Statement is an important part of the application and assessment processes.

Any funding awarded is unlikely to meet all needs and is not intended to be a primary source of income.

Childcare costs will be verified in liaison with childcare providers and any fraudulent claims reported as appropriate. 

It is your personal responsibility to notify the Financial Aid Team ASAP of any changes to registered childcare arrangements. Any changes can result in over/underpayment therefore you must inform the team ASAP so that future payments can be corrected. 

Childcare awards are paid direct to students, in arrears; we do not pay childcare providers direct.  It is your personal responsibility to ensure your childcare provider receives payment for the service provided. If you experience difficulties with payments e.g. you have missed a payment, you are advised to contact the Financial Aid Team to discuss your situation as soon as possible.

Long-term awards are normally payable in monthly non-repayable grant instalments until the end of May, or earlier if your course ends before then.

Short-term awards will normally be paid as a one-off non-repayable grant.

Postgraduate students will normally receive a larger payment in May, to cover the summer period.  The fund is unable to pay instalments beyond the month of May.

Eligibility

To apply for the Discretionary Fund, you must:

• Be a UK domiciled student.
• Be in receipt of Student Loans (if eligible).
• Be fully registered for the current academic year, at undergraduate degree level or above.  (Short Courses, Upskilling and undergraduate certificate students are not eligible)

To apply for the Childcare Fund, in addition to the above, you must also:

• Be eligible for full-time tuition fee support from SAAS (not Student Finance, you should apply directly to Student Finance for childcare funding).

All students applying to the funds should be able to clearly demonstrate financial difficulty via a shortfall between income and expenditure.

Who is not eligible?

• International and EU students
  (excluding EU students who have been ordinarily resident in the UK prior to starting their course and who are in receipt of Student Loans, if eligible).
• Students studying below undergraduate degree level, such as Short Courses and undergraduate certificate students.
• Students studying an Upskilling course.
• Students who have not taken out Student Loans (if eligible).
• Students in receipt of Student Finance England/Northern Ireland/Wales tuition fee funding are not eligible for the Childcare Fund but can apply for the Discretionary Fund.
• Part-time students can’t apply for the Childcare Fund but can apply for the Discretionary Fund.

Students registered on the following basis are not eligible to apply for the funds:

• Erasmus Incoming
• Exchange In
• Reassessment of Dissertation
• Sabbatical
• Visiting In

Discretionary Fund - What support is available?

The Discretionary Fund may assist students meeting the basic eligibility criteria above with living costs.  Funds may also be awarded in recognition of the following:

Fuel Costs

Students unable to meet their living costs due to the energy crisis and increasing fuel costs should apply.

Accommodation Costs

Funds are not paid specifically for accommodation costs however this is recognised as legitimate expenditure, which has a direct impact on students' financial circumstances.

If you have lower outgoings due to staying in the family home, this will affect the assessment of your application.

Student Carers

Students who are carers may be awarded funds in recognition of any extra costs associated with this status.  Please clarify your status as a Student Carer in the Personal Statement section of your application and attach any documentation which verifies this status. Please explain any additional costs resulting from your caring responsibilities on the Personal Statement section of your application.

Parental responsibilities do not constitute Student Carer status (unless for a disabled child), nor do caring responsibilities as part of a voluntary placement or where payment is received.

Estranged Students

Estranged students may be awarded funds in recognition of extra costs associated with this status.

An 'estranged student' is someone who no longer has the support of their family due to a breakdown in their relationship which has led to ceased contact. This might mean biological or adoptive parents or wider family members who have been responsible for supporting a student in the past. Estranged students have no experience of being in care and do not have a corporate parent responsible for them.

The University of Glasgow has specific support in place for estranged students.  If you are not care-experienced but will be studying without the support of your family, please let us know.

Declaration of estrangement will always be treated confidentially and will only ever be used in a positive way, allowing us to contact you with regards extra support that is available for you.

Mature/Independent Students

You may be awarded additional funds if:

• You are 25 or over on the first day of the current academic year
  or
• You are under 25 but have been granted independent status by your funding agency

You will not be considered as a mature student if you receive any young student bursaries or allowances.

Registered/Formal Childcare Costs

Students who do not meet the criteria for the Childcare Fund can still access support for registered childcare costs from the Discretionary fund. 

Funds are available to assist with registered or formal childcare costs which are not covered from any other source. 

Funds are only available to cover childcare costs during study time i.e. not during working hours.

We cannot consider childcare costs incurred before the start of your academic year therefore your Registered Childcare Pro Forma should only be completed from the official start date of your academic year and your child(ren) must have already taken up a place with the provider before you can apply.

Childcare Fund - What support is available?

Registered/Formal Childcare Costs

Funds are available to assist with registered or formal childcare costs which are not covered from any other source, for full-time students eligible for SAAS tuition fee funding.

Funds are only available to cover childcare costs during study time i.e. not during working hours.

Students in receipt of Student Finance England/Northern Ireland/Wales tuition fee funding are not eligible for the Childcare Fund but can apply for the Discretionary Fund.

We cannot consider any childcare costs incurred by you before the start of your academic year therefore your Registered Childcare Pro Forma should only be completed from the official start date of your academic year and your child(ren) must have already taken up a place with the provider before you can apply.

Lone Parent Childcare Grant

The Lone Parents Childcare Grant (LPCG) is not means tested and may be awarded to lone parents who have formal registered childcare expenses while studying.

Please note the Discretionary Fund cannot assist directly with a laptop purchase.  If you cannot afford a laptop you should apply for the Discretionary Fund, then request a laptop via the Laptop Loan Scheme.

Supporting Documents Guidance – Important, Please Read

Please take the time required to collate all supporting documents as separate, clearly labelled PDF files before applying.

If you have any difficulty with the application process or form, please get in touch for assistance - discretionaryandchildcare@glasgow.ac.uk. 

All supporting documents must be saved and attached to your application as separate, clearly labelled PDFs.  For example:

• 1 Current Account Transactions PDF
• 1 Savings Account PDF
• 1 Debt & Other Expenditure Pro Forma PDF
• 1 SAAS Award Letter etc.

There are various online tools to assist with combining documents to a single PDF e.g. www.ilovepdf.com 

There are various online tools to reduce file size, if you are having difficulty attaching to an email e.g. https://www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html

Please do not submit any supporting document as multiple files e.g. individual bank statement pages as separate images.  Applications containing these will not be processed.

Documents cannot be added to an application after initial submission. Supporting documents sent separately from applications will be deleted, unless specifically requested by a member of the Financial Aid Team.

Applications with supporting documents missing or not meeting the detailed supporting documents requirements will not be processed.  If you have any difficulty with your documents, please get in touch for assistance.

Incomplete applications will be rejected, applicants invited to reapply, and new applications will move to the back of the processing queue upon resubmission.

Required Supporting Documents – Important, Please Read

Bank Statement(S) (including spouse/partner if cohabiting)

• Mandatory for all
• Students must also provide spouse/partner’s bank statements when co-habiting.
• Document must show the last 30 days transactions from the date of application for all accounts held in your name (and your partner/spouse’s name where applicable).
• Online statements and transaction lists are acceptable. Excel spreadsheets and word documents are not.
• Bank statements must be highlighted clearly to match income, expenditure and debt on your application form and pro forma documents.
• Food and social costs do not require to be highlighted on bank statements.
• Transfers between accounts must be highlighted and clearly explained in your Personal Statement.
• Out of date bank statements and statements that are not highlighted/annotated appropriately will be rejected.

Tenancy Agreement/Mortgage Statement

• Mandatory for all applicants with rent/accommodation costs.
• Tenancy agreement should be current and show your name, property address, dates of agreement and monthly costs.
• Annual mortgage statement or a letter from provider confirming your name, address, and monthly payments. An amount on a bank statement itself is not acceptable.
• If you are a sub-tenant and do not have a formal lease agreement, please provide a letter from your landlord.

2021/22 Award Notification Letter - SAAS/SFE/SFNI/SFW

• Mandatory for all students in receipt of Student Loans.
• This document is available via your online account with the appropriate Student Finance body (SAAS, Student Finance England/Northern Ireland/Wales).

Birth Certificate for Dependent Child(ren)

• Mandatory for students with dependent children. Any funds provided may be impacted if this document is not provided.
• If you have difficulty obtaining a birth certificate, we will accept passports or tax credit/UC statements. If providing the tax credit/UC statement, please attach the full statement. The statement must confirm you have dependent children.

Debt and Other Expenditure Pro Forma

• All students who show debt repayments and expenditure which falls under the "Other" category must complete the Debt & Other Expenditure Pro Forma and attach to their application email.
• The amounts provided must match the highlighted amounts on your bank statement and the Monthly Expenditure section of your application.
• Only minimum repayments will be considered, up to an overall monthly maximum of £500. Student overdrafts will not be considered as debt repayments.

Universal Credit Statement

• Mandatory for all applications when a student has Universal Credit.
• You must provide a copy of your full, most recent statement that shows any contribution towards childcare costs and/or rent for the academic year.

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS FOR CHILDCARE APPLICANTS

Registered Childcare Pro Forma

• Mandatory for all applications seeking support with childcare costs (via either fund).
• Document should be completed by the childcare provider.
• One Registered Childcare Pro Forma per child, per childcare provider. If you have more than one child that attends the same provider, multiple Registered Childcare Pro Forma are required.
• Please ensure you complete the section of the Registered Childcare Pro Forma asking the level of support you are requesting (full or partial).

Tax/Universal Credit Statement

• Mandatory for all applications seeking support with childcare costs (via either fund).
• You must provide a copy of your full, most recent statement that shows any contribution towards childcare costs for the academic year.

Please see our example supporting documents for information.  Please note some of these documents are for previous years; for an application to this fund we required your most up to date, 21/22 documents.

Registered Childcare Pro Forma

Debt & Other Expenditure Pro Forma

Completed Example - Registered Childcare Pro Forma

Completed Example - Debt and Other Expenditure Pro Forma

Example Supporting Documents

How to Apply - Application Form Available Here

You should be able to complete the application form when it is opened via Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Microsoft Edge.  The application form is not compatible with Firefox.

If you have any problems opening and completing the application form, you may require Adobe Reader or similar software.  Adobe Reader DC is available to download for free:  https://get.adobe.com/uk/reader/

If you are having issues with check/tick boxes on Adobe, please read:  Student Guidance for Adobe

Discretionary and Childcare Fund Application Form

1. Check you are eligible to apply.
2. Ensure you have completed registration; we cannot consider non-registered students. 
3. Collate all supporting documents as individual PDFs.
4. Complete Discretionary & Childcare Fund Application Form (complete all sections).
5. Sign Student Declaration and Privacy Notice (application form).
6. Submit application.

Emailed applications must contain:

• Single PDF containing your application form.
• Separate PDFs containing each supporting document, clearly labelled
  g. 1 Current Account Transactions PDF, 1 Savings Account PDF, 1 Debt & Other Expenditure Pro Forma PDF, 1 SAAS Award Letter PDF etc.

There are various online tools to assist with converting documents to PDF e.g. www.ilovepdf.com 

There are various online tools to reduce file size, if you are having difficulty attaching to an email e.g. https://www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online/compress-pdf.html

Please do not include any further information on your application e-mail. Only your attached and labelled PDFs will be assessed.  Any additional information should be included on the Personal Statement of your application form.

Please do not provide documents as zip files, or shared documents.

Applications must be submitted as a single email, from your University of Glasgow e-mail account to the relevant email address:

Discretionary Fund Applications:                   discretionaryfund@glasgow.ac.uk
Childcare Applications:                                   childcarefund@glasgow.ac.uk
Combined Applications:                                  childcarefund@glasgow.ac.uk

The following applications will not be processed:

• Applications submitted before your course has begun.
• Applications not submitted as PDFs.
• Applications with missing/unsuitable supporting documents.
• Applications without clearly labelled attachments.
• Applications with individual documents attached as multiple files e.g. bank statement as 3 attachments instead of 1 PDF
• Applications from personal email accounts
• Applications sent over multiple emails.

Incomplete applications will be rejected, applicants invited to reapply, and new applications will move to the back of the processing queue upon resubmission.

Applications will be processed as quickly as possible however this can take upwards of 4 weeks during busy periods such as the beginning of term.  Childcare Fund applications are prioritised wherever possible.

Appeals

If your application has been unsuccessful, you can submit an appeal for your application to be reviewed.  Only complete applications which included all required supporting documents can be reviewed under the appeals process.

To appeal the outcome of your application, email the relevant application mailbox (see How to Apply), explaining in detail why you feel your original application meets the eligibility criteria above.  You can also provide any additional information and evidence you feel are relevant to your application.  Please mark your email as high importance and enter Discretionary/Childcare Fund Application Appeal as your email subject.

Appeals will be considered by the Financial Aid Team and the outcome of your appeal will be confirmed via email within 28 working days of receipt.

Reassessments

If an unforeseen incident results in your financial position significantly suffering (after you have been awarded funds) and you are having difficulty meeting your living costs, you can submit a request to have your application reassessed.

To request a reassessment, email the relevant application mailbox (see How to Apply), explaining in detail the changes to your financial position.  You must provide evidence of any changes to your income/expenditure.  Please mark your email as high importance and enter Discretionary/Childcare Fund Reassessment as your email subject.

You may be invited to submit a second application but should only do so if invited to by the Financial Aid Team.

Reassessments will be considered by the Financial Aid Team and the outcome will be confirmed via email within 28 working days of receipt.

Any awards provided via this mechanism will be limited in nature and typically not at the same level of any initial award from the funds.

 

The University of Glasgow Rent Guarantor Scheme has been developed to help students secure accommodation, which is otherwise unavailable, because a UK-based Rent Guarantor cannot be secured.

The Rent Guarantor Scheme will support up to 50 students per year and the University will act as Rent Guarantor for rent payable under Short Assured and Private Residential tenancies.

Important Note for Students

In the event of a successful application, landlords and accommodation providers are required to sign the University of Glasgow's Rent Guarantee Agreement (Provider).

• The University of Glasgow cannot act as guarantor unless this document is signed.
• The University of Glasgow cannot sign any paperwork (such as tenancy agreement) drafted by a landlord or accommodation provider.
• The University of Glasgow cannot complete any external guarantor form or application process e.g. via an accommodation provider’s webpages etc.

Students are advised to consult their prospective landlord or accommodation provider regarding these requirements before beginning an application.

The University of Glasgow can only act as guarantor by signing our own Rent Guarantee Agreement (Provider) documents.  We cannot process a Rent Guarantor Scheme application if a landlord or accommodation provider requires us to sign any other documentation or complete any online form.

Student Eligibility

The Rent Guarantor Scheme is available to the following students, registered on a full degree programme:

• Overseas students.
• EU students.
• UK students who are care leavers.
• UK students who are estranged from their family.
• Students with refugee or asylum seeker status.

Applicants to the Rent Guarantor Scheme must:

• Be able to demonstrate adequate financial provision to meet the cost of rent payments throughout the academic year.
• Have not defaulted on any debts to the University of Glasgow e.g. missed a tuition fee or accommodation payment instalment.
• Have satisfactory academic progress and be on course to progress to the next academic year (only applies to continuing students).
• Be able to demonstrate regular payments to current accommodation provider (only applies to continuing students with a current tenancy).

In the event of shared and multiple tenancies, the scheme will only support the individual applicant’s share of rent.  The scheme will only support full multiple tenancies if all tenants are eligible and invited to apply to the scheme individually.

Any guarantor application/agreement will become void in the event of a suspension, withdrawal or exclusion from studies.  The scheme will not cover students who fail to register or take up their accommodation.

If you have not identified a property yet but provide the above evidence, we can provide an email that confirms, in principle, that we can act as guarantor.  Please note the guarantor agreement will not be finalised until the property is identified and all of the required evidence below is provided.

Accommodation Eligibility

Independent Private Accommodation for which the following documents can be provided:

• HMO licence (if applicable)
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
• Gas Safety Certificate

Purpose Built Student Accommodation (subject to gaining approved supplier status with the University of Glasgow).

What does the guarantee cover?

The guarantee covers rent only (not bills, damages etc.) up to a maximum of £150 per week/£650 per calendar month.

The University will cover rent for up to 12 months.

Application procedure

Eligible students can submit a Rent Guarantor Scheme Application Form via email.

When applying, students will be required to submit the following supporting documents:

For independent private accommodation:

• HMO licence (if applicable)
• Energy Performance Certificate
• Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)
• Gas Safety Certificate

For Purpose Built Student Accommodation providers, a letter on an official company letterhead containing:

• Bank Sort Code
• Bank Account Number
• Bank Name
• Branch Address
• E Mail Address
• VAT Registration Number
• Company Registration Number
• Company Registered Address
• Number of Employees

In the event of a successful application, students will be required to:

• Sign and return a Rent Guarantee Agreement (Student).
• Arrange for landlord or accommodation provider to sign and return a Rent Guarantee Agreement (Provider).
  Purpose Built Student Accommodation providers must also submit additional documentation to obtain approved supplier status with the University of Glasgow.
• Provide a signed copy of the lease agreement.

How does the scheme work?

Students are expected to pay rent directly to their landlord or accommodation provider as standard (not via a flatmate).  If a student is unable to pay rent they must notify the Financial Aid Team (reg.finaid@glasgow.ac.uk) immediately, explaining reason(s) for non-payment, amount due and the due date.  Landlords must also notify the Financial Aid Team by e-mail if rent is in arrears.

The University of Glasgow expects landlords to approach students for rent payment before requesting payment from the University. The University also expects students to promptly approach the University if struggling to pay rent.

How do I repay rent to the University of Glasgow?

If the University of Glasgow is required to pay rent on a student’s behalf, debt will be added to the student’s University of Glasgow account and will be required to be paid within an agreed timeframe.

Who to contact

For further information about the Rent Guarantor Scheme please contact the Financial Aid Team - reg.finaid@glasgow.ac.uk.

In addition to the IT facilities and services available on campus, the University of Glasgow can also assist students who require a laptop for their studies.  Students can request a laptop on a long-term loan basis from the University of Glasgow.

UK Students

If you require a laptop for your studies but cannot afford to purchase one at this time, please apply for the Discretionary Fund, which can assist with your living costs.  After applying for the fund you can request a laptop via the University of Glasgow Laptop Loan Scheme.  You do not need to wait on the outcome of your fund application before requesting a laptop.

If you received funding from the Discretionary Fund or Hardship Fund previously, you can request a laptop direct via the University of Glasgow Laptop Loan Scheme immediately.  You are also encouraged to apply for the Discretionary Fund should you require further financial assistance.

Laptops are provided on a loan basis for the full academic year but should be returned before then if no longer required. 

EU and International Students

If you require a laptop for your studies but cannot afford to purchase one at this time, you can request a laptop via the University of Glasgow Laptop Loan Scheme

If you are having difficulty with meeting your basic living costs, the Hardship Fund can provide one-off emergency support to students who meet the fund’s eligibility criteria.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

PLEASE DO NOT COMPLETE A PAPER APPLICATION FORM, THESE CANNOT BE PROCESSED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW.

The Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG) is administered by SAAS (Student Awards Agency for Scotland) and provides help each year towards the cost of tuition fees for part-time Undergraduate students studying 30-119 credits at a Scottish institution.

An application only counts towards a year of the course. You must apply annually and submit a new application for each year of study.

If you are studying via Short Courses please contact the Short Courses team for full information on their application process: shortcourses@glasgow.ac.uk.

How to Apply

1. Complete MyCampus enrolment for all courses being taken in academic year 21-22.
2. Complete MyCampus financial registration by selecting SAAS Part Time Fee Grant as funder and how much Part Time Fee Grant funding you require See Here
3. Complete the SAAS Part Time Fee Grant Application by creating or logging into your SAAS account:
   https://www.saas.gov.uk/part-time/undergraduate-funding 

If you have completed registration but have missed point 2 above, you can still apply for PTFG and your MyCampus record will be updated to reflect this in due course.

If you add courses after the PTFG is confirmed you will be liable for any extra fees, unless you reapply or notify SAAS.

Dental students at the University of Glasgow can apply for a grant of £4,000 a year from second year onwards to help with the cost of their studies. This is called the Dental Student Support Grant (DSSG).

Only students who started their BDS degree in academic session 2017-18 or later can apply for DSSG.

Full information including the application form is available on the Scottish Government's webpages.

All repeating students in 21/22 are entitled to a further year of DSSG and can apply as normal (do not complete the extenuating circumstances paperwork).   You will not be required to work an additional year for the NHS based on this repeat year.

How to Apply
Please submit applications via email to reg.finaid@glasgow.ac.uk only.  Applications or evidence submitted by post cannot be accepted.

The application deadline for 2021/22 is Friday 10th December 2021 however an early application is recommended.

The Financial Aid Team will begin processing applications in late-August and will be in touch with applicants then.

Only applications from students who have completed full registration for the new academic year can be processed.  Please ensure you complete full registration by Friday 13th August.

Payment
Students awarded DSSG will receive two instalments of £2000, at the end of September and the end of January (will differ if you apply late), paid direct via Financial Aid on MyCampus.

Any students awarded DSSG must ensure they Enter UK bank details on MyCampus.

Applications submitted by the end of August will be processed in time for first payment on Friday 24^th September.

Later applications will be processed as soon as possible however payment may take up to 4 weeks, due to our banking system's schedule.

The Scottish Government are providing bursary support to UK, EU and International BDS students who are repeating a year of studies in 2021/22 due to COVID-19.

Eligibility Criteria

BDS Year 1:
Students who complete an intercalated BSc or MSci in a medical science related subject are eligible for the bursary.

Students who complete 120 credits of other medical science related courses in 2021/22 are eligible for the bursary.

International students here under a UKVI visa are only permitted to undertake an intercalated BSc degree or suspension of studies.

Students enrolled on less than 120 credits in 2021/22 or who take a break from study are not eligible for the bursary.

Please contact the Dental School for further information on the options available for BDS1 students:
Jenna.Wright@Glasgow.ac.uk

BDS Years 2-5:
Students who are repeating a year of BDS studies in 2021/22 are eligible for the bursary.

Bursary Levels

The basic level of award is £4750 and will be paid to eligible students in monthly instalments from August 2021 to May 2022.

Higher levels of bursary are available to students who can demonstrate a household income of less than £34,000.

Household income	Young students (under 25 on 13th September 2021) Includes student's and parent/guardian's income	Independent students (25 or over on 13th September 2021) Includes student’s and spouse/partner’s income
£0 to £20,999	£5,750	£6,750
£21,000 to £23,999	£5,750	£6,750
£24,000 to £33,999	£5,750	£6,250
£34,000 and above	£4,750	£4,750

How to Apply

Students with a household income of £34,000 or more are not required to apply for this bursary.  £4750 will be awarded to you without an application.

Students with household income of less than £34,000 will also be awarded £4750 but are invited to apply for a higher-level bursary.  Any application must clearly demonstrate household income below £34,000.

If applying for means-tested support via SAAS/Student Finance, students are encouraged to do so as soon as possible, as the evidence provided here will allow the University Of Glasgow to assess your application for a higher-level bursary.

Acceptable proof of household income details is as follows:

Student Status	Evidence Required
Scots-domiciled student in receipt of means-tested SAAS support in 2021/22 Means-tested SAAS support = Independent or Young Student Bursary	A copy of your 2021/22 SAAS award letter If you do not have SAAS funding in 2021/22 but did in 2020/21, provide your 2020/21 letter
English, Welsh or Northern Irish domiciled student, in receipt of means-tested Student Loans support in 2021/22.	Confirm on application form you authorise the university to confirm your household income with Student Finance.
UK student not in receipt of means-tested SAAS or Student Finance support.	Proof of household income via official documentation such as a tax returns or P60s for the household*
EU or International  student.	Proof of household income via official documentation such as a tax return or income certificate from your home country, for the household*

*If you are under 25 on 13th September 2021, provide your parent/guardian income details.
  If you are 25 or over on 13^th September, provide you and your spouse/partner’s income details.

Application forms and supporting evidence should be submitted via single email with the subject heading “Application for Enhanced Bursary for BDS Students”, to reg.finaid@glasgow.ac.uk by no later than Friday 16^th July 2021.

Enhanced Bursary for BDS Students 21-22 Application Form

Enhanced Bursary for BDS Students 21-22 Application Form FILLABLE PDF VERSION

Applications will be processed between 20^th July and 13^th August.  You will be contacted regarding your application during this period.

Payment of Bursary

The bursary will be awarded as Financial Aid on MyCampus and paid in monthly instalments from August 2021 to May 2022 (paid on last working Friday of each month).

To receive the bursary, you must meet the eligibility criteria above and complete registration by Friday 13^th August.  Late registration will delay payment of your first instalment.

To receive Financial Aid payments, you must also enter UK bank details on MyCampus by Friday 20^th August:  https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_485895_smxx.pdf

Monzo, Revolut and Starling accounts are acceptable however foreign bank accounts are not.

What are my tuition fees?	You can check your tuition by logging into your MyGlasgow account. Further information on tuition fees for RUK students is available here.
Am I eligible for any additional funding as well as my Student Loan?	If you agree to share details of your household income with the University of Glasgow (answer "yes" on your Student Loan application) you will automatically be considered for the RUK Access Bursary. If you are an undergraduate student, your admissions application will be used to assess you for the RUK Excellence Scholarship. The Scholarships Team will contact you direct if you are awarded either of these funds.
How do I get paid?	Sign and return your loan paperwork to Student Finance/SAAS. Enter your Student Support Number (13 characters) from your loan paperwork on MyCampus when completing registration. Complete registration on MyCampus. The University of Glasgow will confirm your registration to the SLC, who will release your maintenance loan.
When will I be paid?	Provisional payment dates will be listed on your loan paperwork however before you can receive payment you must complete registration on MyCampus. After you complete registration on MyCampus it can take approximately 8 working days for your payment to reach you.  Subsequent payments should reach you closer to the dates listed on your loan paperwork.
What happens if I apply for my loans late?	You will still receive your full loan entitlement for the year, but your first payment will most likely be late. If you apply late you will be personally liable for tuition fees until your Tuition Fee Loan is approved.
My maintenance loan payments are incorrect.	Contact Student Finance or SAAS.
I am repeating a year of study, what do I do?	Create a support call via your MyGlasgow page providing as much detail as possible and assign to the Financial Aid team within the Registry. The Financial Aid team will then submit a Change of Circumstance request on the SLC system to update your loans. If you are repeating on an Exams Only basis you are not eligible for Student Loans. If you are repeating on a part time basis you may not be entitled to Student Loans, depending on the circumstances.  For example, if you are only enrolled on semester 2 courses you may only be eligible for loans for that part of the year.
Student Finance has told me the University needs to submit a Change of Circumstances.	Create a support call via your MyGlasgow page providing as much detail as possible and assign to the Financial Aid team within the Registry.
The University has contacted me regarding a tuition fee debt but I have a fee loan from the SLC.	Make sure your 13 character Student Support Number is recorded on MyCampus. Check your loan paperwork and MyCampus fees to ensure you have loans for the full fee. Create a support call via your MyGlasgow page providing as much detail as possible and assign to the Financial Aid team within the Registry.
The University is charging fees for my final year but my course on the Student Loans system doesn't allow me to take out a fee loan.	When applying for loans, please search for "Final Year Fees" when selecting your course.  There should be a course closely matching yours, with "Final Year Fees" in the title - please select this course in order to request a fee loan for your final year. Please note:  The Final Year Fees course does not have to be an exact match for your actual course e.g. Business & Management (Final Year Fees) can be selected if your course is Business & Management/Economics etc. If you cannot find a course which closely resembles yours as above, please contact the financial aid team, who will create a suitable course  on the Student Loans system. This situation can occur when you have already benefitted from a 'free' year, where no tuition fees were charged by the University e.g. a Study Abroad year.  When this happens, you will be charged a fee for your final year (excluding 5 year language degrees which do not charge fees for the year abroad or the final year).
How do I confirm my Study Abroad arrangements with Student Finance?	Please indicate on your loan application that you will be abroad and provide date/location details. Student Finance should then issue you with a Course Abroad Form (CAB1), which can be signed off by the University of Glasgow team organising your period abroad (normally the Study Abroad Team or your College/School Office).  Completed CAB1 should then be submitted to Student Finance. Study Abroad may entitle you to additional funding or early loan payments; please liaise with Student Finance for further information.
I was supposed to be overseas for the full year but have returned early.	Please notify your course admin contact, Financial Aid team and MRIO Go Abroad team via email. Please note your fees for the year will increase if you return early however these can normally be covered by an SLC tuition fee loan if you notify the financial aid team.
I want to withdraw from my studies.	Please liaise with your advisor of studies and course admin contact and submit a formal withdrawal request. Please consult the refund policy for information on your tuition fee liability in event of a withdrawal from studies.
I am transferring to the University of Glasgow from another University.	Make sure your 13 character Student Support Number is recorded on MyCampus.  Create a support call via your MyGlasgow page asking for a Transfer In Change of Circumstances to be submitted to the SLC.  Assign to the Financial Aid team within the Registry.
I am transferring to another University and leaving the University of Glasgow.	Please follow the withdrawal process as above and ask your new University to submit a Transfer In Change of Circumstance via the SLC portal.

When creating a support call via MyGlasgow please include your name, student number and SLC student support number (13 characters).

If you are due to receive payments via MyCampus Financial Aid from the University of Glasgow, you should Enter UK bank details on MyCampus (pdf).

If you do not enter UK bank details on to your MyCampus account, payments will be delayed.  Please see the Student Stipend Calendar for further information.

The GUSA Hardship Fund for sport was created in the 2020/21 academic year to support students experiencing unforeseen short-term financial difficulty, but wish to participate in sport at University. GUSA will assess applications based on the information provided, but may require further evidence to be submitted to ensure the fund is supporting those who are most in need of support to partake in sport.

Applicants do not need to have been accepted onto the normal hardship fund to apply for the GUSA Hardship fund. All awards are given at the discretion of the committee.

The support the GUSA fund provides is:
• Full Cost of UofG Sport Membership per applicant (applications must be resubmitted each academic year)
• Full funding of one GUSA club sport membership per academic year or relevant semester

Students can apply for both of the above. Please note successful funding will be transferred directly to UofG Sport or the respective club and cannot be claimed in cash by the recipient . The fund exists as GUSA and the University recognise the positive and lifelong benefits participation in sport has on a student’s physical and mental wellbeing. This fund aims to support students most in need by removing financial barriers to participation. Please note that the fund does not exist to supply all students with a free gym membership and we therefore ask that only students who cannot afford to cover their own Sport and GUSA Club memberships apply.

Full application information can be found on the Glasgow University Sports Association Hardship Form

"...thanks so much for your help. You do so much to go above and beyond for all us American students and we couldn't manage to be here without you."

"I am not sure if I will see you again on campus, but I wanted to say one last time that I really appreciate the assistance you gave me. My financial experience at my old university was horrific. I have been more than satisfied with how smoothly this has gone, especially considering how difficult the U.S. government can be. I wish you the best with everything and hopefully I'll possibly see you around again at graduation."

"Thank you so much for assessing my claim - this is such fantastic news I find it difficult to express my elation. The award of the fund greatly alleviates stress relating to my current financial situation.  Without the fund I would have found it pretty much impossible to complete the PGDE programme, and I am immensely grateful to the University and yourself for the assistance in this matter."

"Thank you so much! I really, really appreciate it!  Over the past year, I have felt extremely worried about my debt and how I'd be able to pay it back, but this fund will save me a lot of stress and I'l be able to cut down hours at my job to really focus on my degree!"

"Thank you very much! This fund has been a lifesaver for me over the last few years and I really appreciate all of the help.  Thank you again."

"The Financial Aid team has been extremely helpful in my experience. Not only were they able to help financially, but I was also lucky enough to be able to sit down and discuss my situation with a member of the team. This meeting was extremely helpful and provided me with a great deal of clarity regarding my financial situation. The application was straightforward and the Financial Aid team were able to answer any questions I had. The fund offers students with needed help that is unavailable elsewhere and the help I received has reduced a substantial amount of stress.
I would like to thank all of the Financial Aid team, the work you do is integral for some students to get by. I am extremely grateful for the help you were able to provide and wish you all the best."

The Financial Aid Team are responsible for the management and administration of approximately £37 million of funds each year that are provided to University of Glasgow students from a variety of sources including the UK Government and United States Department of Education.  Student Financial Aid is a small team comprising of five members of staff working a mixture of full-time and part-time hours within the University of Glasgow Registry.

As well as administering the funds detailed below the team also manage the weekly and monthly BACS run processes, which facilitates payments to funded students via the MyCampus system.  A typical monthly BACS run provides over £2.1 million of funding to University of Glasgow students.

The funds available via the Financial Aid Team are intended to benefit as many of our eligible students as possible and allow them to complete their studies at the University of Glasgow.  Each academic session, the Financial Aid team organises the provision of financial support and funding to over 4,000 students.

Historical Hardship Fund and Discretionary Fund figures.

Full information on funding available via the Financial Aid Team is detailed below and our contact details are listed above, should you have any enquiries.

Alan McConnell (Financial Aid Manager) December 2018 interview with Ann Luk, for the PGR Blog.