Student Support Fund - open now!
The Student Support Fund is now available for student's experiencing unexpected hardship
You can now apply for the fund via the RISIS portal. Please follow the advice below and instructions for applying.
See further details and eligibility on the fund below and please read the Guidance Notes before applying.
The Student Financial Support team are available to assist with your queries.
Are you struggling to manage a change in your money situation?
Life can change unexpectedly; loss of a job, illness or family etc. In the event of unexpected changes in circumstances, the university is here to support you. Especially in cases where you are struggling financially.
The University may be able to provide short-term solutions in the form of bursaries, loans, support funds and essential food and household items. The Student Financial Support team can also help ensure you are receiving all the funding available while at university.
Have your circumstances changed due to Covid-19 (Coronavirus)?
1. Use the letter linked here, which has been written by our Vice-Chancellor to private landlords remind them of their obligations to support their tenants through this difficult period.
2. Have a look at our leaflets which focus on debt and worrying about your financial circumstances
3. Utilise the services of our RUSU Advice service
4. Use the materials provided by the Government and housing advice charities such as Shelter and Government advice
5. Apply to our Student Support Fund - more information below
What is the Student Support Fund?
The Student Support Fund is a range of different pots of money set aside to assist students who are experiencing unexpected financial difficulty. The Student Support Fund can only be used to help with living costs and are provided by the University based on an assessment of need.
If you find yourself in unexpected financial difficulty, then please email the team on studentfunding@reading.ac.uk.
Deadlines
Please note the following deadlines in the academic year 2020/21 for Student Support Fund applications to be received:
| Final Year students | 28 May 2021 |
| Continuing students | 11 June 2021 |
| Change of Circumstances | 30 June 2021 |
Maximum Award Levels
Due to the current COVID-19 situation, the below maximum award levels have been temporarily increased until the end of the 2020/21 academic year and will be kept under review.
| Single students | £1,750 (+250) |
| Couples | £2,250 (+250) |
| Families (students with dependents) | £3,500 (+500) |
| Final year students who apply after Term 2 | £1,250 (+250) |
The maximum level of award is only given in situations of extreme hardship, it is NOT the standard level of award.
The Student Support Fund can now provide £500 awards from the Student Support Fund to students in financial hardship that are not eligible for the Digital Support Fund, for example, international and postgraduate students, and need to purchase IT related equipment and/or peripherals (mouse, keyboard, extra monitor, router, dongle etc.) and/or connectivity services. This award will, if given, not contribute to the above maximum award limits.
What can awards be used for?
The primary purpose of the Funds is to relieve unexpected financial hardship that might impact on a student’s participation in higher education.
Awards from the Student Support Funds are not required to be repaid and can be used towards unexpected living costs, internet connectivity, specialist software, as well as IT-related study equipment costs up to £500.
The Student Support Funds cannot support students with any fee-related payments; including Tuition fees, Resit fees, Library fees, late payment charges and Hall fines.
Who can apply?
Any UK, EU or International undergraduate or postgraduate student currently enrolled at the University of Reading can make an application to the Student Support Funds.
Please note that students must normally be enrolled for a minimum of 60 credits or 50% of a full-time course. Disabled students studying less than 50% because of their disability may apply if they study at least 25% of a full-time course. New part-time students who started their course on/after 1 September 2013 must be enrolled for a minimum of 30 credits or 25% of a full-time course.
How to apply
To apply for the Student Support Fund please log into your RISIS Web Portal. Go to the “Actions” menu and then click on “Financial Support”. From this page you will be able to read the guidance notes and click on the link “Begin/Continue application for financial support or bursary”. When you have completed your online application you will get an acknowledgment email sent to you.
Apply Now via the RISIS portal.
If you get stuck with finding the application on the RISIS Web Portal then do take a look at the screen shots of the process.