Many smaller award schemes exist for students from particular countries or ethnic backgrounds. Your local British Council office (or Embassy or High Commission) should be able to provide information on the schemes available to you. Usually you will have to apply before you leave for the UK.
There is a Tuition Fee Remission scheme for students who find themselves in unforeseen financial difficulty. The University may exceptionally remit fees, in full or in part, for students who pay their own fees and experience exceptional and unforeseen circumstances causing financial hardship. The exceptional circumstances will ordinarily have occurred since the start of the academic year and might include loss of a sponsor or changes in family circumstances. Applications for tuition fee remission are only considered after an appointment with a Student Adviser in Student Advice and Welfare Services.
There is an Emergency Fund for international students experiencing financial hardship. This fund is used to make awards to other EU and international students who have experienced substantial and unforeseen financial hardship since the start of their academic year. There is no upper limit on awards, but the limited size of the fund means that students in even the most severe hardship are unlikely to receive more than £2,000. Applications to the fund can only be considered after an appointment with a student adviser in Student Advice and Welfare Services.
All students may also apply to borrow up to £300 from the University's short-term loan fund provided they can prove that they are experiencing a short term financial emergency and can repay the loan within 30 working days.
For details of all these, please contact Student Advice and Welfare Services.
Please note that this information applies only to the 2007/2008 academic year.