Hallam Hardship Fund

Financial support

Contact Hallam Help if you:

are experiencing financial difficulties,
have a complex funding issue, or
would like help to improve your money skills.

We will offer guidance on the support and funding available.

Hallam Hardship Fund

You may be eligible to receive a one-off payment if you are experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties.

The information on this page is correct for the 2024/25 academic year.

Overview

The Hallam Hardship Fund is available to help with essential living costs so that your studies are not impacted.

We understand that unexpected financial issues can be stressful and, therefore, the support we offer may not always be financial. We may invite you to an appointment to discuss alternative funding and support.

If financial difficulties are affecting your mental health, the Student Wellbeing service provide support and resources that you may find useful.

What you could receive

In normal circumstances, payments will not be more than £600.

How are applications assessed

There is no automatic entitlement to an award and all applications are considered on their individual merits. When assessing an application, we will consider:

  • whether you have an exceptional circumstance,
  • whether your situation was foreseeable,
  • whether you have other sources of funding available and/or savings,
  • the level and type of spending shown on your bank statements, and
  • the impact on your studies.

Who can apply

You can apply for the Hallam Hardship Fund if you meet all of the following criteria:

  • You are enrolled on a taught credit bearing course or research degree during the current academic year.
  • You are a home fee status student and studying a course that attracts a fee which is payable directly to Sheffield Hallam. 
  • You have applied for all other viable sources of funding and benefits that you are eligible for.

If you receive benefits and/or any other financial support, it is your responsibility to check whether receiving an award will affect your entitlement(s)/payments.

If you are an international student, you should apply for the International Emergency Fund.

If you are enrolled on the Physician Associate course, you should apply for the Physician Associate Studies Hardship Fund.

When to apply

Applications are open throughout the academic year. However, if all available funds have been allocated, applications may close before the end of the academic year.

How to apply

You will need to submit an application form. The form will ask you for:

  • information about your personal circumstances,
  • information about the amount of money you need and why,
  • information about the exceptional circumstances that have led to your current financial situation, and
  • evidence to support your application (such as bank statements and funding/benefit documents).

You must read the terms and conditions and the guidance on providing bank statements before applying. These can be found at the start of the application form.

What happens next

We will contact you if we need more information and to tell you the outcome of your application. If all the information and documents we request are provided, most students receive a decision within two weeks of their application being submitted. Currently, most successful applicants receive a payment about three weeks after their application is submitted.

If information and documents are not provided when requested and/or if your case is complex, a decision can take up to six weeks.

If your application is not successful, we will explain why and offer alternative support where possible.

Need help

If you have any questions about the Hallam Hardship Fund, please contact Hallam Help.

 

Financial support

Contact Hallam Help if you:

are experiencing financial difficulties,
have a complex funding issue, or
would like help to improve your money skills.

We will offer guidance on the support and funding available.