Access to Learning Fund (ALF)
What is the Access to Learning Fund?
The Access to Learning Fund is provided by the government to assist UK undergraduates and postgraduates who experience financial difficulty.
Who is eligible to apply?
All undergraduates and postgraduates who have Home fee status or indefinite leave to remain. Suspended students are also eligible to apply. ELQ students are not entitled for support from the Access to Learning Fund.
What is the application procedure?
Students can obtain an application form either through their College Hardship Officer or from Student Financial Support by emailing student.funding@admin.ox.ac.uk. Applications should be submitted to Student Financial Support at the Examination Schools.
Is any additional documentation required?
Students are asked to provide several pieces of documentation to support their application including tenancy agreements, battels and bank statements. Applications cannot be processed until all supporting documentation has been submitted.
What should undergraduates be aware of before submitting an application?
Before students apply they must have taken out their full maintenance loan allowance and have been financially assessed, unless there is good reason why this is not the case. Undergraduates may only be given an award from the Access to Learning Fund to support them for the costs incurred during the academic year. No assistance can be given for the Long Vacation. The assessment will take into account their full Oxford and government support. Therefore students in receipt of the maximum level are unlikely to qualify for an award.
What should postgraduates be aware of before submitting an application?
The Access to Learning Fund can help to alleviate unexpected financial hardship. However, it cannot provide funding for postgraduate students who were underfunded at the start of their course or be used towards fees. In assessing applications, guidance must be followed which assumes that a postgraduate student receives a minimum income of £170 per week (£137 per week for students with dependants or disabilities) regardless of whether or not this is the case.
When is the application deadline?
Applications for 2013/14 will be accepted from 7 October 2013 (week 0) and will be processed from week 1 of Michaelmas term. Students can request a form from their College Hardship Officer or by emailing student.funding@admin.ox.ac.uk.
The final deadline for receiving complete application forms is 12 noon on Friday 27 June 2014 and the deadline for receiving any outstanding supporting documentation is 12 noon on Friday 4 July 2014. Any applications which are not complete on this date will not be processed under any circumstances.
What level of award is available?
The maximum award is £2,500. Where funding remains available this could be increased in Trinity Term.
How are applications assessed?
Applications are assessed against expected income and essential expenditure for the academic year. Any additional need is identified once these have been calculated. Essential expenditure is based upon government recommendations and capping of certain costs. This helps to ensure that students are treated equally regardless of lifestyle.
Can students make repeat applications?
Students can submit an application for each year of their course. They can only reapply in the same academic year if circumstances change.
How are students notified of the outcome?
Students will be informed of the outcome of the assessment by Student Financial Support. Payment of any award will be made to the student. Colleges can ask for information about their students’ applications.
Who should Colleges and students contact for more information?
Please email all queries to student.funding@admin.ox.ac.uk.