Aston Student Support Fund

What the Aston Student Support Fund gives you

You get a one-off grant of up to about 3,500 EUR (3,000 GBP) per academic year if you hit unexpected money trouble during your studies. It is a hardship fund from Aston University in Birmingham. It works as a short-term bridge of up to 12 weeks, not a regular income. You do not pay it back. The amount is decided case by case from the documents you submit. You normally get only one grant per academic year.

Who can apply

• University: You are fully enrolled at Aston University for 2026/27, either undergraduate or postgraduate.
• Fee status: You pay Home (UK) tuition fees. EU and international students apply instead through the separate Susan Cadbury Fund.
• Other funding first: You have already applied for every other source open to you, such as a Student Finance loan, and received your first payment.
• Real hardship: You can show a sudden, short-term money problem you could not have planned for, which now threatens your basic living costs.
• Planning shown: You can show you had a sensible budget in place before you started or re-enrolled.
• Priority groups: You are more likely to be funded if you have dependent children under 18, are a young carer (16-25), are a care leaver up to 24, have urgent priority debts, have a disability that stops you working, have a household income under 25,000 GBP, or come from an area where few people go on to higher education.
• Who is left out: PhD students in an extended writing-up phase and exchange students are normally excluded.

How to apply

Fill in the online application form and attach the required proof, such as three months of bank statements and your Student Finance letter. You can apply all year during the normal academic year (August to June). The funds team aims to decide within 10 working days once your application is complete. Book a free session with a Student Advisor first to check you have used all other funding options.

How realistic are your chances?

This is not a merit award you compete for against others. It is a needs test, so your prospects depend on how genuine and well-documented your hardship is. If you clearly fit a priority group and can prove an unexpected shortfall with bank statements and your Student Finance letter, your chances are good. Applying with complete documents speeds up the decision and avoids the four-week deadline for missing paperwork.