UCL Financial Assistance Fund (FAF)

Benefit

You get a one-off grant you never have to pay back to help cover living costs when you hit unexpected money trouble. Full-time students can receive up to around 2,900 EUR (£2,500), or up to about 3,500 EUR (£3,000) if you have children or other dependants. Part-time students get up to around 1,450 EUR (£1,250), or up to about 1,750 EUR (£1,500) with dependants. UCL works out the amount by comparing your yearly income against your reasonable spending, then pays a grant to help close the gap. It covers living costs only, such as rent, food and bills. It does not cover tuition fees. The money comes from UCL's own funds plus donations from alumni, staff and supporters.

Eligibility

• University: You are currently enrolled on a UCL programme. This covers undergraduate, taught postgraduate, PGCE and research students.
• Financial need: You have run into unexpected difficulty and cannot cover essential living costs.
• Government funding first: You have already applied for all state support you are entitled to, such as Student Finance England loans or NHS bursaries.
• No fee debt: You do not owe UCL any outstanding tuition fees.
• Active study: You are attending classes, not on a break or interruption of study.
• Changed circumstances: When you started, you had a realistic plan to fund your studies, but your situation has since changed. Postgraduates who never had a realistic plan are usually not eligible.
• Priority groups: Students with children (especially single parents), those with no family support, care-experienced students, and those facing homelessness or disability are especially encouraged to apply and may receive higher amounts.

How to apply

You apply online through UCL's Portico portal under 'My Money', after adding your bank details. For 2025-26, the deadline is 12 June 2026 for undergraduates and 31 July 2026 for taught postgraduate and PGCE students. Research students have no deadline. Decisions normally take about three working weeks once all your documents are in.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a hardship fund, not a competitive scholarship, so it is not about grades or a polished application. If you are enrolled at UCL, have used up your government funding and can document a genuine shortfall, you have a real chance of support. The amount depends on the money available and your specific need, so it varies, and priority groups tend to be helped most fully.