Small Emergency Grant

The Small Emergency Grant is available to all students who require very short-term assistance who have no, or very little funding available to them. The typical award is £20 which is provided in the form of an ASDA voucher. The fund is extremely limited, and criteria include, but are not limited to:

• having less than £10 in your bank account, having utilised or at least applied for an overdraft
• having no other sources of income
• in certain cases, having submitted an application to the BU Financial Support Fund

Please be prepared that during this application we will ask for evidence of your current bank balance and financial background to understand the best award for your circumstances.

Contact us if you would like to apply.

SUBU Community Kitchen Pantry

Items available to students in our pantry include food items, personal hygiene products, cleaning products and household supplies. You can access the pantry by visiting the Advice Office between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

We also have a 24/7 pantry cupboard located in the Community Kitchen. Simply scan the QR code and take up to five items from the cupboard if you need them.

Food Parcels Scheme (CLV Packs)

In collaboration with Campus Living Villages and ResLife BU, SUBU Advice can provide you with supply packs, depending on your needs. These include 7, 3 and 1-day food packs, feminine hygiene packs, personal care packs and more. Email us to access these or visit us at our Talbot office.

BU has a range of supportive and alternative funding available to students. Your eligibility will depend on your personal circumstances so please read the criteria carefully and get in touch with us if you are unsure whether you would qualify.

• BU Financial Support Fund
• BU DSA (Disabled Students' Allowances) Support Fund
• Emergency Funding
• Bursaries
• Undergraduate Scholarships
• Postgraduate Scholarships

To view the full range of funding available via BU, visit their website.

SUBU Advice are accredited budgeting coaches and can sit down and discuss your financial situation to make a clear plan for the future. We can help by:

• Listening to your situation, understanding your concerns, and exploring available options to support you.
• Identifying short, medium, and long-term solutions, including quick fixes and ways to minimise risks.
• Equipping you with financial management tools and guidance to help you confidently take control of your finances.

If you have fallen behind with repayments, defaulted on a loan or not paid someone you owe money to then it's important you seek advice. The Money Advice Service, Stepchange and National Debtline are free, confidential services that can advise you of your options. You can make a call to these services with one of our Advice Workers who can guide you through the conversation and help you make a plan of action.

StepChange offer the widest range of practical debt solutions of any provider in the UK. They provide expert advice either online or over the phone, and they’ll recommend a range of practical debt solutions based on your situation. Still unsure? Take that first step with their 60 second debt test.

Student deals and discounts:

You can access a whole range of discounts and perks with your student status whilst at university.

• SUBU Discounts and Student Offers
• TOTUM
• Save the Student deals
• Unidays
• Student Beans

Travelling during your studies?

Students are eligible for the 16-25 railcard (must be a full time student or aged 16-25) for 1/3 off their railcard, a must have if you travel via train.

Travel by coach? National Express offer 1/3 off coach travel with their Young Persons Coachcard (must be aged 16-26, or be a full time student)

Travelling by bike? BU offer a range of discounts, courses and facilities, you can see them here.

Opening a student bank account?

Choosing the best student bank account can be difficult with a range of options and discounts or perks. We recommend checking out the SavetheStudent advice on this.

New to the UK? - Opening a UK bank account

For information on how to open a bank account in the UK and the steps involved, see this website.

Unfortunately criminals often target international students with scams to try to steal your money. This could be via phone call, text or email. They may even have some of your personal information and use this to persuade you to trust them. Please visit BU’s stay safe online webpages to read their guidance on what to look out for. BU also have a dedicated page which includes advice specifically for international students which can help you to avoid becoming a victim.

Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE)

The Lifelong Learning Entitlement (LLE) is a new way of accessing student finance in England. It is designed to give people more flexibility to study throughout their working life, whether they are starting a new career, developing existing skills, or returning to education later in life. 

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to access funding for eligible courses and modules, as well as support towards living costs and other study-related expenses. 

For more information about the Lifelong Learning Entitlement and eligibility criteria, please see the latest government guidance.

Student Overdrafts

Student overdrafts can be a useful way to access more financial support. Whilst we are not financial advisors so cannot recommend any particular bank or service, you can check out the SaveTheStudents webpage on this.

NHS Learning Support Fund

• If you are a student on an NHS course which started in September 2017 or after, you may be eligible for additional NHS support from their Learning Support Fund. Part of the support the NHS offers is the Exceptional Support Fund for students facing financial difficulty. Please note if you wish to apply for the Exceptional Support Fund, you must have applied and received a decision from the BU Financial Support Fund first.

Trusts and Charities

There are educational trusts and charities that could be of assistance to you. You can search for these via the Turn2Us website.

Thinking of studying abroad?

BU offers funding through the Turing Scheme, designed to help you undertake international opportunities as part of your studies.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with your living costs. You may be able to get it if you're on a low income or out of work.

You cannot usually get Universal Credit if you're studying full-time, however there are some exceptions.

You may be able to get Universal Credit if you're studying full-time and any of the following apply:

• you're aged 21 or under, in full-time non-advanced education and do not have parental support
• you're responsible for a child
• you live with your partner and they're eligible for Universal Credit
• you've reached the qualifying age for Pension Credit and live with a partner who has not
• you've received a Migration Notice telling you to move to Universal Credit
• you're disabled, were assessed as having limited capability for work before starting your course, and receive a qualifying disability benefit
• you're studying in full-time non-advanced education, do not receive a student loan or maintenance grant, and are available for work

As eligibility rules can be complex and may change, we recommend checking the latest government guidance before making an application.

For the most up-to-date information, visit the Universal Credit and students guidance.

As a student with a dependant, you’ll be juggling university work, family and looking after yourself. We understand that your degree is just one part of your busy schedule and that knowing what financial support is available can feel like a minefield. Student parents can apply for funding in addition to their Student Finance loan to help with childcare costs and the additional costs associated with having a family. It’s important to note that the funding available may depend on what year you started your course.

Student Finance

In addition to the Maintenance Loan, some students with dependants may be eligible for extra financial support through Student Finance England. Eligibility will depend on your personal circumstances and household income.

Additional support may include:

• Adult Dependants' Grant – for students who financially support another adult. 
• Childcare Grant – to help with registered childcare costs while you study. 
• Parent Learning Allowance – to help with the additional costs of studying while raising children. 

These grants are usually paid in addition to your main student finance and do not normally need to be repaid. Eligibility criteria apply.

Pregnancy, maternity and paternity

• Whilst still active on your course, you can apply for the BU Financial Support Fund via AskBU and there may be some trusts and charities that could aid as well. Check out Turn2Us to search for grants offered by trusts and charities.
• Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) and Maternity Allowance (MA) may be available to you, depending on your work history. If you do not qualify for SMP then you may be able to claim MA. If you don’t qualify for Maternity Allowance or Statutory Maternity pay and are unemployed or on a low income, you might be able to claim Income Support whilst you’re pregnant. If you have a pregnancy-related illness and you are unable to claim Statutory Sick Pay, then you may be eligible for Employment and Support Allowance. More information about benefit entitlement when you are pregnant or have a baby can be found on the MoneyHelper website. The website also includes some useful money management tools such as an interactive money timeline, money saving tips for baby shopping and managing family finances when you've had a baby.
• In addition to these benefits, some lone parents can claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant of £500 if there are no other children aged under 16 years in the household. If you are part of a couple, you can claim the Sure Start Maternity Grant if one of you receives a qualifying benefit. There is a deadline of three months after the baby is born to make a claim, so familiarise yourself with the process and apply as soon as possible.
• You may also be eligible for the Healthy Start food vouchers and vitamins. Healthy Start provides food vouchers and vitamins to those who are at least 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under four years of age and you or your family receive income support/income-based jobseekers allowance, child tax credit or universal credit.
• BU has more information about pregnancy. Also check out the STUDENT MATERNITY, ADOPTION AND PARENTS POLICY AND PROCEDURE.