University of Warwick - International Students' Childcare Fees Remission Scheme

What the childcare fund gives you

You will receive a grant of up to 50% of your actual childcare costs for each 10-week semester, as well as for up to 10 weeks of the summer break. There is no fixed amount. The amount of the grant is calculated on a case-by-case basis according to your financial circumstances, so you will only find out the exact amount once you have submitted your application and it has been assessed. The University of Warwick administers this fund to help international and EU students with young children to continue their studies despite the costs of childcare. If your child is 3 or 4 years old and is already entitled to free childcare hours, the grant will be reduced accordingly. The grant applies only to the current academic year, so you will need to submit a new application for subsequent years.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are enrolled at the University of Warwick on a degree programme leading to a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree.
• Nationality: You are an international or EU student.
• Your child: You have a pre-school-aged child who already attends the university nursery or another childcare facility registered with Ofsted (Ofsted is the official UK regulatory body for childcare). You cannot apply until your child has started attending that centre.
• Field of study: Open to all subjects.
• Financial need: You have neither savings nor any other financial resources, nor an interest-free overdraft facility, with which you could bridge the gap, and you have already made use of all the state benefits to which you are entitled.
• Not eligible: You cannot apply if you are awaiting a decision from an examination board, have been permanently expelled from the university, are in ‘limbo’ status, are undertaking a dual training programme, or are an exchange student.

How to apply

You apply via an online form using your Warwick University login and upload proof of your financial means, as well as a form providing details of your child’s childcare arrangements. There is no fixed deadline: you can submit your application as soon as your child has started attending childcare. Once you have submitted your application, you will have a confidential consultation (duration: approx. 30 to 60 minutes) with a student finance adviser, and you will receive the outcome by email within 10 working days.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a hardship fund reserved exclusively for international and EU students at the University of Warwick who already have a child in registered childcare and can demonstrate genuine financial hardship; consequently, the eligible group is small. There is no guaranteed amount of funding, and some applications are rejected; therefore, clearly documented financial need is crucial. If you meet the criteria and can provide evidence of your situation, your chances are good. It is advantageous to apply early in the year, as funds may run short later on.