If you're a student at Birmingham City University and are in hardship, you may be eligible for extra financial support through our Access to Learning Fund. Funds are provided by the Government through the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
What can Access to Learning Funds help with?
We will look at your individual circumstances, but you may, for example, be able to get help:
- for course or living costs that are not already covered by other forms of financial help - these could be everyday living costs, child care costs or support over the summer vacation if you have no one else to turn to
- for emergency payments to cover unexpected financial crises or exceptional costs - such as repairs to essential household equipment
- if you're thinking of giving up your course because of financial problems and need extra support to help you keep studying.
Who can apply?
The Access to Learning Fund is available to the following current Birmingham City University students:
- full-time higher education students
- full-time postgraduate students.
Part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students can also qualify, as long as their course:
- lasts at least one year, and
- takes no more than twice as long to complete as an equivalent full-time course.
If you have a disability or specific learning difficulty that means it will take more than twice as long to complete your course than would be typical for an equivalent full-time course, you may still be able to apply for help from the fund.
How to apply
Once you have enrolled on your course, you can apply for the Access to Learning fund through Student Services.
Application forms and guidance notes can be downloaded through iCity, our online student portal, or by contacting Student Services. Completed applications will need to be returned to Student Services with all supplementary evidence, such as:
- a copy of the letter from Student Finance England showing how much you will get through the standard student finance package
- documents showing your financial situation, such as bank statements and details of rent.
Access to Learning Fund and other types of student finance
Money from the Access to Learning Fund is paid on top of the standard student finance package - it’s not meant as a substitute.
You will be expected to have applied for any student loans, grants and bursaries you are entitled to before applying for help from the Access to Learning Fund.
Any awards made from the Access to Learning Fund are not repayable.