Help with money problems while at university. Hardship funds, grants, debt advice, and budgeting support for students.
Student loans (tuition and maintenance) work very differently from other debts. You only repay when earning over £27,295, payments are 9% of income above this threshold, and remaining debt is written off after 30-40 years. This is NOT the same as credit card debt, overdrafts, or personal loans.
This page focuses on non-student-loan debt - credit cards, overdrafts, payday loans, and other commercial debts that students may accumulate. These debts require immediate attention and don\'t have the same protections as student loans.
| Support | Type | Amount | Repayable? | How to Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
University Hardship Fund One-off grants for unexpected financial emergencies. Every university has a hardship fund. | Emergency grant | £100-£3,000 | No | Apply through your Student Union or Student Support office |
Maintenance Loan Government loan for living costs. Amount depends on household income and location. | Living costs loan | Up to £13,348/year | Yes | Apply via Student Finance England/Wales/Scotland/NI |
Disabled Students' Allowance Covers additional costs if you have disability, mental health condition, or learning difficulty. | Disability grant | Up to £25,575/year | No | Apply via Student Finance - requires assessment |
Childcare Grant Help with childcare costs if you have dependent children. | Childcare costs | £193.62/week per child | No | Apply via Student Finance when applying for student loan |
Many students struggle financially but don\'t ask for help because they\'re embarrassed or don\'t know support exists. Your university\'s Student Support or Wellbeing team can help with emergency grants, food bank vouchers, budgeting advice, and negotiating with landlords or creditors. Everything is confidential.
Use apps like Monzo, Starling, or simple spreadsheets to track where every pound goes. Most students underestimate spending by 30-50%.
Check your university website for all bursaries, scholarships, and hardship funds. Many go unclaimed because students don't know they exist.
Get an NUS card (£15/year), Unidays, or Student Beans. Save 10-20% on food, clothes, tech, and entertainment.
Use your 0% student overdraft if needed, but avoid non-student bank overdrafts which charge 39.9% interest. Never use payday loans.
Students can access Maintenance Loans (up to £13,348 in London), university hardship funds (£100-£3,000 for emergencies), and Disabled Students' Allowance if eligible. Additional support includes Childcare Grant (up to £193.62/week), Parents' Learning Allowance (up to £1,863 yearly), university bursaries, and Council Tax exemption. Check with your university's student support service as many students miss out on support they're entitled to.
Stop using credit immediately and make a realistic budget listing all income and essential expenses. Apply for university hardship fund grants (one-off emergency payments), contact creditors to explain you're a student on limited income and request payment holidays or reduced payments. If debts are serious (under £30,000), consider a Debt Relief Order (costs £90, debts written off after 12 months) - get free advice from StepChange (0800 138 1111) or Citizens Advice.
Yes, UK student loans are automatically written off after 25-40 years depending on your plan (Plan 1: 25 years, Plan 2/4: 30 years, Plan 5: 40 years). However, non-student-loan debts like credit cards, overdrafts, and payday loans have NO automatic forgiveness and must be paid or dealt with through debt solutions. 'Student debt forgiveness' programs from commercial companies are often scams - seek free advice from StepChange or Citizens Advice instead.
Yes, the government provides Tuition Fee Loans (up to £9,250/year) and Maintenance Loans (£4,767-£13,348/year) which must be repaid, plus non-repayable grants including Disabled Students' Allowance (up to £25,575/year), Childcare Grant (up to £193.62/week), and Parents' Learning Allowance (up to £1,863/year). Students also get Council Tax exemption, free prescriptions if under 19, and access to university hardship funds. Apply through Student Finance England/Wales/Scotland/NI early - deadlines are typically May/June for autumn term start.
Free, confidential help is available. Speak to your Student Union money advisor, university Student Support team, or national debt charities who understand student finances.
Debt solutions for students on low income or struggling financially.
Write off non-student debts under £30,000 if you have low income.
Help with credit card debts accumulated during university.
Support when debt is affecting your mental health and studies.
60 days protection from creditors while arranging your finances.
How an IVA affects student finance applications and student loan repayments.