Your finances
York St John Student Support Fund
How we can help with your financial circumstances.
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We can offer financial assistance through the Student Support Fund and short-term food assistance.
The aim of this support is to help you with unexpected financial difficulties.
It is not intended to be used as a primary funding source, but rather to help you regain control of your financial situation.
York St John Student Support Fund
Eligibility
Eligibility will depend on your circumstances and whether you are a UK or international student.
Please review the criteria for both groups in the drop-down menu below.
The Student Support Fund provides discretionary financial assistance for UK (home) students and postgraduate researchers who are eligible for UK government funding. Applicants are expected to have applied for and received all available funding from your funding body, such as Student Finance.
The Fund is designed to help students continue their studies despite unforeseen challenges.
The International Student Support Fund provides discretionary financial assistance to fee-paying overseas and EU students (who are not eligible for the Maintenance Loan from Student Finance) living in the UK and facing unforeseen circumstances that have arisen since the start of their course.
What is an unforeseen circumstance
- Unexpected temporary reduction in income
- Change in sponsors circumstances where they are no longer able to support you financially
- Injury which has significantly impacted your finances
- Being a victim of crime or fraud, which involved a significant loss
- Unexpected travel home due family reasons, serious illness, death of close family member
- Unexpected change in your accommodation situation which resulted in a loss
This is not an exhaustive list and if you are unsure whether you should apply, please contact the Student Funding Advice team to discuss your circumstances on fundingadvice@yorksj.ac.uk.
What is not classed as unforeseen circumstances
- Unable to pay your tuition fees
- Change in currency exchange rates
- Your family members are in need of financial support
- Mismanagement of your funds leading to financial hardship
How to apply
While we aim to make the application process as straightforward and non-intrusive as possible, the submission of certain documents is a necessary part of our evidence-based approach. We understand that gathering these documents can seem burdensome, but they are essential for us to accurately assess and support your application.
Awards are discretionary and not guaranteed. Please do not assume an application will be successful, or expect a specific amount. The amounts awarded can vary and are subject to change at any time in the academic year. Any help awarded is usually non-repayable.
Students cannot apply to the fund for support with paying tuition fees. In such cases, we advise contacting the Finance team to discuss your circumstances. You can contact them on finance@yorksj.ac.uk or call them on 01904 876 452.
You can apply to the Fund at any point during the year, providing the allocation has not been depleted. We will process your application as quickly as possible, but please allow up to 21 working days for us to complete an assessment after receiving your application and all necessary supporting evidence.
Apply to YSJ Student Support Fund
Providing evidence
During the application process, you'll be required to upload your supporting evidence.
You can see the evidence you need to provide in the drop-down menu below.
- Evidence of any income. For example, Student Finance entitlement letter for 2024-25 academic year.
- Tenancy agreement (full document), letter from landlord or mortgage statement if you own your home.
- The last 3 months' bank statements for all accounts in your name including any UK, overseas or online bank accounts. The covering period will be from the date you submitted your application. For example, if you submit an application on the 15 February, you will be required to upload your bank statements from 15 November to 15 February.
- If applicable, your partner's last 3 months' bank statements for all accounts held in their name.
- If you are an international student, evidence of the circumstances that have impacted your financial situation.
Examples of bank accounts
- Student accounts - Santander 123, TSB, HSBC, Lloyds, Revolute, Monzo, Nationwide, Plumb
- Current and joint accounts
- Savings – ISAs Fixed rate, easy0access, notice accounts
Bank statement format
Exported bank statements from an online bank account or scanned bank statements should be in a PDF format.
Please note, we do not accept screenshots from mobile phones or excel spreadsheets.
If you are unsure on how to export your latest transactional data, please visit your bank's website for guidance on how to do this.
Alternative shopping options
The apps below can help you to save money on your food.
- Too Good to Go: Find discounts on surplus food at local shops and restaurants.
- Olio: Pick up items that are no longer needed from people who live nearby.
- No Waste: Track, organise and manage the food in your home to reduce waste.
- Trolley.co.uk: Compare prices across supermarkets and save money on your everyday shopping.
You can also find advice on managing your money on Blackbullion: The Budget Decision Tree.
Short-term emergency food assistance
If you find yourself in an unexpected situation without food, we can offer support through short-term emergency food assistance. This support is designed to help relieve immediate pressure during this difficult time. To apply, please complete the following online form.
Apply for short-term emergency food assistance
If you require immediate food support, please contact the Student Funding Advice team on fundingadvice@yorksj.ac.uk as the University has a stock of non-perishable items available.
