King's College London - International Hardship Fund

International Hardship Fund at King's College London

You will receive a one-off emergency grant of up to about 6,900 EUR (6,000 GBP) if you are an international or EU student at King’s College London and have encountered unexpected financial difficulties. The exact amount depends on your circumstances, and the maximum amount is only paid out in rare cases. This is a contribution towards your costs, not full coverage; therefore, you should not count on this amount being part of your normal budget. As a rule, you can apply for the grant once per academic year (September to June). The College maintains this fund to help students who had sufficient financial resources before the start of their studies but have since found themselves in unexpected financial hardship.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are duly enrolled and are studying on the King’s College London campus.
• Level: Open to students on Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes (including a teaching component) and PhD programmes.
• Nationality: You are an international or EU student. If you are a UK domestic student paying standard UK tuition fees, please apply to the King’s Hardship Fund instead.
• Planned funding: Before you enrolled, you had a comprehensive plan for covering your tuition fees and living costs.
• Unexpected hardship: After you started your studies, something unexpected happened, which meant you ran out of money. Higher tuition fees, high rents in London, exchange rate fluctuations or Covid-19 do not count.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.

How to apply

You should apply online via the fund’s website. Please attach supporting documents for both your original funding plan and the unexpected change in your circumstances. The application period runs from 14 October to 31 May. Please apply at least four weeks before the end of your academic year, and earlier if possible, as funds are limited. A panel will review your application and notify you of the outcome by email.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a limited emergency fund and not a regular scholarship, so approval is never guaranteed. It depends on the extent to which you can demonstrate a genuine, unforeseen emergency. As this fund is intended exclusively for international and EU students at a specific university who have experienced a clear triggering event, only a small number of people are eligible. However, funds are limited, and everyday living costs are not taken into account. If you can demonstrate a genuine, unexpected change in circumstances and apply early in the year, your chances are quite good.