Financial support

Students must meet all of the following criteria to apply for the Mary Trevelyan Hardship Fund:

• Studying full-time at a recognised Higher Education Institution in London

• In financial need due to unexpected circumstances

• Either an ISH resident (of any nationality) OR a non-British student at a London institution that holds membership with ISH

• The amount awarded varies according to individual circumstances but an average award is just over £400
• The grant will not be sufficient to pay university tuition fees
• Preference will be given to students in their final year of study
• Evidence of applications to / awards from a university’s hardship fund would strengthen an application

Completing a funding application can be stressful and daunting so we have compiled some tips that would help you make a strong application!

• Answer all the questions on the application form fully and clearly, with no omissions.
• Give as much detail as you can of the reasons for your financial hardship: What is unexpected about your situation? What change in circumstances has occurred? Make sure to provide evidence of your changed circumstances (e.g., if a family member has lost a job or fallen sick – attach an email/medical letter supporting this).
  Note: saying that London is more expensive than you expected is not unusual and will not make your application stand out.
•  Evidence – everything stated in the application should be supported by documentary evidence, so make sure you provide all the documents requested and any others that are relevant to your particular situation, e.g., if you have stated that your rent is £500 per month, include a letter from your landlord/copy of tenancy agreement to prove this. If you have a part-time job, please submit payslips or indicate your earnings on your bank statement.
• Be realistic about the shortfall in funds: how much financial support do you need and if your application is successful, how will you spend the money awarded? For example, if you are requesting a grant to attend a conference or purchase materials for your course, please submit evidence of these costs.

Remember, as the funds are very limited, your application is more likely to be successful if you provide sufficient details and are able to demonstrate your need.