With the right information and guidance, you can minimise financial worries and maximise your enjoyment of student life.
The current cost of living crisis is affecting everyone, and in partnership with the Students' Union, we want to work together to support each other during this time through a range of initiatives and free events to help you save money and come together as a community. Plus, if you need some guidance, or experience any issues with finances or living costs, we can offer support. Don't leave it too late as often getting early advice can help put you on the right track.
Go straight to...
Student Wellbeing and Support Team
Our Student Wellbeing and Support Team at the Student Zone can advise you about financial support and eligibility for:
- Undergraduate funding for full-time and part-time courses
- Postgraduate funding
- University bursaries, funds and scholarships
- Laptop grant to support access to essential IT equipment for your studies
They also offer guidance on:
- Budgeting and money management (including student banking)
- How to make your student budget stretch as far as possible
- Ideas for saving
Did you know we also have a specialist Student Money Adviser?
As your Student Money Adviser, I can help you with any budgeting or money management questions you might have. You can catch me at one or our many drop-ins, or at our Wellbeing Café on Thursday from 2pm - 4:30pm, where you can enjoy a free hot drink and biscuit while playing a board game that helps encourage conversations about money management.Student Money Adviser
The Wellbeing Café
Every Thursday at 2 - 4.30pm in the Food Court.
Come along and meet the Student Support Team for guidance on finance and wellbeing, as well as enjoy a free cup of tea and some biscuits.
NASMA's Student Money Matters Magazine
National Association of Student Money Advisers are an external organisation who are recognised as the leading authority on all matters relating to student advice and funding. They produce a quarterly Student Money Matters Magazine which is filled with useful information and advice on financial matters.
Hardship Support
Student support advisers administer the University’s Access to Learning Fund (ALF). This fund provides discretionary financial assistance for UK students to access and remain in higher education.
Undergraduates must have applied for their maximum student funding entitlement and have received the first instalment before submitting an application.
ALF monies may be awarded as a short-term loan in instances whereby receipt of student funding is delayed. Alternatively, ALF can be awarded as a grant. The amount awarded will depend on your individual circumstances and the number of applications received throughout the year.
It is important to note that ALF is intended to act as a safety net for those in financial difficulty, rather than a main source of income.
Applications will be accepted throughout the academic year until 12 noon on 3 July 2024, or until the fund is exhausted - whichever is the earliest.
How to Apply
Students must meet with student support advisers who can assist them with their application.
The Exceptional Support Fund (ESF) provided by the University is a discretionary hardship fund to help students who find themselves in extreme financial hardship during their studies.
Most students who find themselves in financial difficulty can apply to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF). The exception to this is students with overseas, Channel Islands/Isle of Man or EU status, and students who would normally be eligible to apply to the ALF but cannot due to the fund being exhausted, or before the fund opens.
The ESF could support you if you’ve received financial support from ALF but, despite the grant that you’ve received, you find that you’re experiencing another situation of unexpected extreme financial hardship.
The ESF is assessed via a panel and they will consider your income, essential expenditure, circumstances and the exceptional reason you’ve given for making the application. Any award will be paid to you in the form of a non-repayable grant, up to a maximum of £500.
Eligibility Criteria
Any full-time and part-time foundation year, undergraduate and postgraduate student can apply to the fund for financial aid, except:
- Students who are studying on courses that are under one year in length (30 weeks).
- Students who are eligible to apply to the NHS Exceptional Support Fund. This applies to students who are studying an NHS undergraduate course, which started after August 2018. These students can apply to the NHS ESF once they have been fully assessed by the ALF.
To apply, you must be fully registered, currently enrolled on and attending your course.
How to Apply
Students must meet with student support advisers who can assist them with their application.
Could you qualify for the Government's Personal Independence Payments (PIP)?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
- A long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- Difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition
PIP is non-means tested, so you can be a student receiving Student Finance or working, and still be eligible for PIP. For advice and guidance on if and how to apply, speak to our Student Wellbeing and Support Team.
Bursaries, Grants and Scholarships
At CCCU there are a range of scholarships and bursaries to help you thrive at university. We offer awards to both our undergraduates and postgraduates. Depending on your personal circumstances and subject discipline, there's an array of support available to many of our students.
Payment by CCCU Aspire
Most financial support payments for students will be made via CCCU Aspire.
For students who are issued a cash award, paying funds into their bank account couldn’t be easier. Students will receive an email from student.info@CCCU-Aspire.co.uk advising them of the funding made to them with full instructions on how to access these funds. The student can then pay their funds into their bank account of choice and the funds usually transfer instantly, but could take up to 2 hours.
Please note that this does not include payments made directly via the Student Loan Company, including the CCCU Grant and Student Care Leaver's Bursary.
Earn while you learn
If you are looking to earn money alongside your studies and boost your income, we are here to support you in finding the right opportunity for you. Our recruitment service, Unitemps, has a great range of part-time jobs on offer within the University and local area.
Plus, if you are looking to undertake a career development opportunity but finding it financially difficult to do so, then you may be eligible to benefit from the Career Development Fund.
In this section
Contact the Student Zone
Further information
Join us for lots of free events
Did you find this page useful?