Hardship funding

If you are experiencing financial difficulties you should take the following steps:

1. If you are a Home student (paying fees at the 'Home' rate), you should check you have applied for all government funds to which you are entitled.

For undergraduate and PGCE students, this relates principally to the maintenance support and/or tuition fee support as well as any extra support available, as outlined on the Gov.uk website.

For graduate students, this relates principally to Master’s or Doctoral loans, as well as government allowances and benefits available to students who have extra needs, such as students with a disability or student parents who may be eligible to claim child benefit, tax credits or universal credit.

2. Speak to your college

If you are in financial difficulty you should usually approach your college or hall in the first instance. Colleges understand the financial constraints students experience and are aware of the impacts of the rising costs of living on students' finances. They will be able to offer advice on the support that you may be eligible to apply for, including any relevant College Hardship Funds.

3. Assess your financial situation

Consider whether there is any action you can take to improve your financial situation before seeking assistance. Review your spending habits and identify areas where spending could be reduced, for instance by looking at your bank statements. You may also find it useful to refer to the Managing your finances webpage. The University is committed to helping students in financial difficulties and is very aware of the rising costs of living, but cannot offer assistance where financial issues may be caused by excessive and unnecessary expenditure.

4. Check your eligibility to apply for hardship funds provided by the University

Students in financial difficulty may be eligible to apply to the Oxford Hardship Fund (OHF), a centrally-administered Fund which assesses students for support according to their fee status, providing assistance through grants and/or loans. Students should check the eligibility criteria and the deadlines in place when considering applying for this support. 

Research students close to completion, whose studies have been disrupted by the pandemic, may also be eligible to access financial support through the University Continuation Charge (UCC) support scheme. Details about the scheme and how to apply can be found at the following webpage COVID-19 Financial support | University of Oxford.