International students may be eligible to receive a one-off payment or loan if they are experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties.
The information on this page is correct for the 2024/25 academic year.
Overview
The International Emergency Fund is available to support international students who encounter significant short-term financial difficulties caused by unexpected changes in their circumstances or severe personal issues.
What you could receive
Normally payments will not be more than £500.
Payments will normally be made as a non-repayable grant or a repayable loan. In some circumstances, and with your agreement, payments can also be made to a third party.
The support we offer may not always be financial. We may invite you to an appointment to discuss alternative support.
There is no automatic entitlement to an award and all applications are considered on their individual merits.
Who can apply
You can apply for the International Emergency Fund if you:
- are enrolled on a taught credit bearing course or research degree during the current academic year,
- are paying the international fee for your course, and
- can demonstrate that you have made adequate arrangements to finance your living costs but have met unforeseen circumstances.
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:
- the amount of money you need and why,
- relevant evidence to support your request (such as bank statements), and
- a personal statement telling us what has led to your current financial situation.
You must read the terms and conditions before applying. These can be found at the start of the application form.
