University of Warwick - International Students' Emergency Fund

What the International Students' Emergency Fund gives you

You will receive a one-off grant you never pay back to cover basic living costs, such as food, if you are unable to pay for these due to an unexpected, short-term emergency. There is no fixed amount. The amount of support is calculated on a case-by-case basis depending on your circumstances, and not every application is successful. The money will be paid into a UK bank account or your university account. The fund is administered by the University of Warwick’s Student Funding Support department. It is a fund of last resort, meaning it is only used once you have exhausted your own savings and all other sources of support available to you.

Who can apply

• University: You are enrolled at the University of Warwick.
• Nationality: You are an international student or a student from the EU.
• Course: You are enrolled on a degree programme leading to a formal qualification, such as a Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree. Students on dual study programmes and exchange students are not eligible to apply.
• PhD and Master's by Research: You must first submit an application to the ‘PGR Hardship Fund’ at the Doctoral Centre and only then contact the fund with proof of the result.
• Financial need: You have neither savings nor an overdraft facility nor any other financial resources to bridge the gap, and you have already made use of all the state support to which you were entitled.
• Genuine emergency: The crisis came unexpectedly; it could not have been foreseen at the start of the year and was not caused by avoidable or unnecessary expenditure.
• Enrolment status: Your record is not marked as ‘Awaiting the examination board’, ‘Permanently withdrawn’ or ‘Pending’.
• Priority: You will be given priority if you have children or other dependants, have been estranged from your family, have been in care, or have a disability.

The fund does not cover tuition fees, medical costs, visa fees, the cost of laptops or IT equipment, debt repayments, currency exchange fees or money to support family or friends.

How to apply

You start by completing a short online expression of interest form. If you meet the eligibility criteria, you will be invited to a 10 to 15-minute triage interview with an adviser. ‘Triage’ refers to a brief initial assessment of your situation. If this goes well, you will need to submit a full application with the relevant supporting documents within four weeks. This will be followed by a further appointment, and you will receive a response within 10 working days.

How realistic are your chances?

This is emergency assistance, not a reward for good grades. Your chances therefore depend on whether you can prove that you are facing a genuine, unexpected financial hardship and whether you have already exhausted your own resources. Decisions on whether to grant this support are made on a case-by-case basis, and some applications are rejected. It is therefore vital that you provide clear evidence of your financial situation. If you have dependants, are estranged from your family, have been in care or have a disability, your application will be given priority.