University of Sheffield - Short Term Emergency Financial Assistance 

Short Term Emergency Financial Assistance (University of Sheffield)

You can borrow up to about 290 EUR (250 GBP) as a one-off, short-term loan if you find yourself in a sudden financial emergency whilst studying at the University of Sheffield. This is a bridging loan, not a grant. It is intended to bridge a delay in your official funding or an unexpected emergency, and you must repay it within a few weeks (usually four). It is not intended to cover a general shortfall between your available funds and what you need to live on.

Who can apply

• Situation: Your official funding has been delayed, or an unexpected emergency has left you short of funds for a few weeks.
• Enrolment: You are a duly enrolled student at the University of Sheffield.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Nationality: Open to students of all nationalities.
• Own funds first: You’ve already spent all your own money and asked other sources, such as banks or your parents, for help.
• Repayment: You can repay the loan within a few weeks.
• Once a year: You have not taken out a short-term loan yet this academic year.
• Evidence: You can provide evidence of the emergency by means of invoices, payslips or letters.

How to apply

Make an appointment at the Student Services Information Desk (SSiD) in the Students’ Union building – usually for the same day or the following morning – and fill in a short form. You will then attend an interview; please bring your bank statement and proof of emergency funds with you. The staff will check whether you meet the eligibility criteria and determine the loan amount and repayment date. A decision can be made on the very same day.

How realistic are your chances?

This is emergency financial assistance for students in Sheffield who find themselves in a genuine, short-term financial emergency – it is not a competitive grant – so there is no fixed number of places available. If you are duly enrolled, have already exhausted your own financial resources, can provide evidence of the emergency and are able to repay the funds within a few weeks, your chances are good. Please note that the only description found dates from 2012. You should therefore check with SSiD to see if this scheme is still running before counting on it.