Student ExperienceFunding & financial support team

We're here to help you navigate the financial side of student life, offering guidance, advice, and support to ensure that money issues don’t stand in the way of your studies.

Our team provides a range of services to support you and your studies.

Financial Support Funds

We understand that everyone’s financial situation is unique. The University has some funds set up to provide extra support for students who are in, or may be facing, severe financial difficulty during their studies and struggle to cover essential living costs.

Discretionary Fund – available to students from Scotland, England, Wales, and Northern Ireland who are in, or who may be facing, severe financial difficulty.

Housing Support Fund – All students who have an urgent housing need are eligible to apply.

Mature Students Hardship Fund– All students who are aged 21 or over are eligible to apply, provided they have applied for all other available funding.

The Lady Eileen McDonald EU & International Student Fund – available to assist EU and International students with one-off, unforeseen financial emergencies that cannot be met through any other form of funding, income, or sponsorship.

Childcare Fund - available to full-time students who are funded by SAAS, and who have children who require registered childcare.

Emergency Aid Loan Fund: If you’re facing an unexpected financial hardship, we offer quick one-off financial assistance through an emergency aid loan to help you get back on track.

Please note that these funds cannot make awards to assist with tuition fees.

If you have queries or require advice on your tuition fee payments, please contact the Finance Helpdesk.

Scholarships and other funding opportunities

The University offers other scholarships and bursaries to provide additional financial support for eligible students. Have a look at the list provided on our website to check your eligibility.

Support and Guidance on student funding

Whether you don’t know who your funding body is yet, or you’re funded by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), or a funding body from the rest of the UK such as Student Finance, our team are here to help you understand and manage your student funding options.

If you are a full-time student who was educated in Scotland, and you are not eligible for tuition fee support from SAAS, you may be eligible for a grant towards your tuition fees for your repeated period of study from The Carnegie Trust. Learn more about undergraduate tuition fee grants.

The Funding and Financial Support team can also provide guidance and advice on how your funding may be affected if your academic circumstances change. For example, if you are thinking about changing your course, taking a break from your studies due to health or other personal reasons, or registering for academic suspension.

Course pathways and funding

Undergraduate

More information and guides on Undergraduate funding.

Postgraduate Taught

Postgraduate Taught students can find out more about funding and how to apply.

Postgraduate Research

Postgraduate Research students can learn more about funding options on Prospects.ac.uk.

Part-Time Students

Eligible Part-Time Undergraduate students ordinarily resident in Scotland should apply for a Part-Time Fee Grant from SAAS. You must apply each year of your study.

All other UK Undergraduate eligible students should apply to your domicile funding body (England, Wales or Northern Ireland) for a Part-Time tuition fee loan, if available.

Graduate Apprentice

Graduate Apprentice students who are ordinarily resident in Scotland should apply for funding from SAAS by free typing in the course title box: 'Graduate Apprentice' and selecting Part-Time study mode, although you will be studying Full-Time. This is due to the SAAS processing rules and only tuition fee grants are available. There are no living costs loans available for this type of funding. You can find out more on the SAAS website.

Contact us

We want to help you make the most of your time at university, so please don’t hesitate to reach out with any financial or student funding-related questions. Whether you’re planning your budget, applying for funding or facing financial challenges, we’re here to support you.

If you would like to speak to us you can email us at financial-support@strath.ac.uk or attend our drop-in session. Just ask at the Student Helpdesk, Level 4, Learning and Teaching Building

 

Frequently asked questions

The Discretionary Fund is intended to assist students who are in or may be facing severe financial difficulty. EU students (not in receipt of a Student Loan) and international students are not eligible to apply.

You can apply if:

  • you're a UK student or otherwise meet the residence requirements for a student loan (even if you cannot get a loan because you are part-time or a postgraduate)
  • you think there will be a shortfall between your income and your reasonable expenditure between now and the end of the academic year
  • if you're a full-time undergraduate or PGDE student, you have applied for your full Student Loan and have received your award notice and payment schedule.

 

 

The Childcare Fund can help with a contribution towards the costs of formal/registered childcare costs. To be eligible, you must be

  • Scottish-domiciled
  • a full-time undergraduate student who receives tuition fee support and have applied for full funding entitlement from SAAS

or,

  • Scottish-domiciled
  • a postgraduate student who receives a living cost loan from SAAS

Formal childcare includes registered childminders, after-school clubs, day care, sitter services and providers of pre-school and education. Proof of current formal/registered childcare costs must be provided.

Informal childcare costs (for example, non-registered childminder, friend, family member) may be considered via the Discretionary Fund.

You can submit an appeal. When making a nil award to a student, our team will always provide details on the reasons for the decision.

Students can only appeal against a nil award from a fund and appeals will only be considered on the following two grounds:

  • where a student can provide additional information in support of an appeal which was not available at the time of the original decision

and/or

  • where a student can demonstrate why they feel the Funding and Financial Support Team have made an error in the reasoning for their decision.

University of Strathclyde Student Financial Support Appeals Procedure

 

When we assess your first application we will usually calculate your needs for the full academic year. You can make another application but you'll need to explain how your circumstances have changed significantly and how you spent the money from a previous award.

Yes. You may still have a budget shortfall. If you're a full time student we'll also consider how many hours it is reasonable for you to work during term time.

Contact the Finance Helpdesk by emailing finance-helpdesk@strath.ac.uk  or by phone +44 (0)141 548 4500 to discuss your options and potential payment plans available.

Contact the Finance Helpdesk by emailing finance-helpdesk@strath.ac.uk  or by phone +44 (0)141 548 4500 to discuss your options and potential payment plans available.

Please get in touch with us to check by emailing financial-support@strath.ac.uk

Our team is responsible for sending all notifications to the funding bodies during your study. Just get in touch with us to check by emailing financial-support@strath.ac.uk

Our team is responsible for sending all notifications to the funding bodies during your study. Just get in touch with us to check by emailing financial-support@strath.ac.uk

Our team is responsible for sending all notifications to the funding bodies during your study. Payments will be released after you have registered as a student and the University has confirmed your enrolment to the Student Loan Company (SLC) and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) at the start of each academic year. You can get in touch with us to check by emailing financial-support@strath.ac.uk .

Yes, all Undergraduate and Postgraduate SAAS funded students and Undergraduate rest of the UK students must apply for funding each year of their study.

Yes, please get in touch with us to find out the details by emailing financial-support@strath.ac.uk or attend our drop-in session.

Please rest assured we are processing all the applications as quickly as we can but it might take around 6-8 weeks, and at busy times it can take up to 10 weeks. If your circumstances are urgent, please get in touch to let us know by emailing financial-support@strath.ac.uk or attend our drop-in session.

All of them. To be assessed accurately and with no unnecessary delays you must submit all the listed required supporting documents.

No. Please download the actual PDFs from your online banking for all the bank statements you submit.