DISCRETIONARY & CHILDCARE FUNDS

We have a range of funds available to help you while you study. Exactly what is available can be different for different types of students, so please read the section below that applies to you in order to find out more. 

Please note: We accept applications via email so you do not need to submit paperwork to us via post, or in person at our campuses. However, you can always contact us at the email address below if you have any questions or concerns about submitting your application. 

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at fundingadvice@uws.ac.uk  

 

Undergraduate

The following funding may be available to you if you are an Undergraduate student from Scotland or the Rest of the UK. As PGDE students are funded through the undergraduate funding system, you should also use this section to find out more about discretionary and childcare funds.

If you are a Paramedic, Nursing or Midwifery, International or EU student, please scroll to the specific sections below to find out more about discretionary and childcare funds that may be available to you.

Discretionary Funds, including the Childcare Element, may be available to UK students who are in receipt of the maximum student support available to them (from SAAS etc.) and can demonstrate a need for financial support whilst adhering to our various rates for appropriate expenditure. The only exception are students studying Paramedic Sciences and pre-registration Nursing and Midwifery courses, who are not eligible and should consult the section below.

The purpose of the Discretionary Fund is to provide additional financial support to eligible students who can demonstrate a need for this during the current academic session. Support is in the form of a non-repayable bursary and is designed to top up the student support received through Government. Discretionary Funds are intended to help meet basic living costs and assist a student in being able to engage and succeed in their studies. The Childcare Element of these funds can be awarded in addition to the Discretionary Fund and can help meet the cost of study related childcare.

To be eligible, students must be in receipt of the maximum student support available to them and can demonstrate a need for financial support whilst adhering to our various rates for appropriate expenditure.

Although funding comes from the Scottish Government, you do not need to be Scottish to be eligible but should be in receipt of student support from Student Finance England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

You may apply if you struggle to make ends meet each month, or if you experience an unexpected cost that you have not budgeted for. These funds are limited, and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The fund will close often with little or no notice, when the budget has been exhausted.

Assuming you continue to meet all eligibility criteria, you should reapply each academic year, as funding will not continue automatically.

It is unlikely that any award will cover your shortfall in full so we would encourage you to use money advice resources to help you budget effectively.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

APPLYING FOR THE CHILDCARE ELEMENT?

If you also wish to apply for help meeting the costs of study related childcare, we simply include that in your application to the Discretionary Fund. This means you only need to complete one application and we will assess you for both elements. Your childcare provider(s) will need to complete the form, and you should read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

Procedures & Guidance

The following documents will help you complete your application

Discretionary and Childcare Funds are available to UK students funding their studies through the SAAS Part-time Fee Grant, or having an annual income under £25k. Funding is limited to help meet the costs of books/course materials, travel and childcare, and is designed to ensure that those students on low incomes are not significantly out of pocket as a result of their studies.  

Awards will reflect a flat rate of £150 per 20 credit module as a contribution towards books/course materials and travel. We would encourage students to interpret books/course materials broadly, and this may include anything from stationary to IT equipment. You must provide evidence of your annual income to support your application, but you do not need to provide receipts etc. for books/course materials or travel costs in order to apply. You can use the award at your discretion, to best suit your individual needs. 

We will contribute towards the cost of study related childcare if your household is in receipt of Tax Credits, or Universal Credits.

These funds are limited and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We cannot award retrospectively, for modules that have finished, or for modules that you are resitting.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

APPLYING FOR CHILDCARE?

If you also wish to apply for help meeting the costs of study related childcare, we simply include that in your application to the Discretionary Fund. This means you only need to complete one application and we will assess you for both elements. Your childcare provider(s) will need to complete the form, and you should read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

Procedures & Guidance

Postgraduate

The following funding may be available to you if you are a Postgraduate student from Scotland or the Rest of the UK. As PGDE students are funded through the undergraduate funding system, you should also use the section above to find out more about discretionary and childcare funds.

If you are a Paramedic, Nursing or Midwifery, International or EU student, please scroll to the specific sections below to find out more about discretionary and childcare funds that may be available to you.

If you are undertaking postgraduate research study, such as PhD level study, please scroll to the specific section below to find out more about discretionary and childcare funds that may be available to you.

Discretionary and Childcare Funds are available to UK students funding their studies through the SAAS Part-time Fee Grant, or having an annual income under £25k. Funding is limited to help meet the costs of books/course materials, travel and childcare, and is designed to ensure that those students on low incomes are not significantly out of pocket as a result of their studies.  

Awards will reflect a flat rate of £150 per 20 credit module as a contribution towards books/course materials and travel. We would encourage students to interpret books/course materials broadly, and this may include anything from stationary to IT equipment. You must provide evidence of your annual income to support your application, but you do not need to provide receipts etc. for books/course materials or travel costs in order to apply. You can use the award at your discretion, to best suit your individual needs. 

We will contribute towards the cost of study related childcare if your household is in receipt of Tax Credits, or Universal Credits.

These funds are limited and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. We cannot award retrospectively, for modules that have finished, or for modules that you are resitting.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

APPLYING FOR CHILDCARE?

If you also wish to apply for help meeting the costs of study related childcare, we simply include that in your application to the Discretionary Fund. This means you only need to complete one application and we will assess you for both elements. Your childcare provider(s) will need to complete the form, and you should read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

Procedures & Guidance

Discretionary Funds, including the Childcare Element, may be available to UK students who are in receipt of the maximum student support available to them and can demonstrate a need for financial support whilst adhering to our various rates for appropriate expenditure. 

The purpose of the Discretionary Fund is to provide additional financial support to eligible students who can demonstrate a need for this during the current academic session. Support is in the form of a non-repayable bursary and is designed to top up the student support received through Government. Discretionary Funds are intended to help meet basic living costs and assist a student in being able to engage and succeed in their studies. The Childcare Element of these funds can be awarded in addition to the Discretionary Fund and can help meet the cost of study related childcare.

To be eligible, students must be in receipt of the maximum student support available to them and can demonstrate a need for financial support whilst adhering to our various rates for appropriate expenditure.

Although funding comes from the Scottish Government, you do not need to be Scottish to be eligible but should be in receipt of student support from Student Finance England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

You may apply if you struggle to make ends meet each month, or if you experience an unexpected cost that you have not budgeted for. These funds are limited, and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The fund will close often with little or no notice, when the budget has been exhausted.

It is unlikely that any award will cover your shortfall in full so we would encourage you to use money advice resources to help you budget effectively.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

APPLYING FOR THE CHILDCARE ELEMENT?

If you also wish to apply for help meeting the costs of study related childcare, we simply include that in your application to the Discretionary Fund. This means you only need to complete one application and we will assess you for both elements. Your childcare provider(s) will need to complete the form, and you should read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

 Procedures & Guidance

The following documents will help you complete your application:

Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery

The following funding may be available to you if you are a Paramedic or pre-registration Nursing/Midwifery student from Scotland or the Rest of the UK. This includes courses leading to registration with the NMC at both BSc and MSc levels.

If you are a Paramedic or pre-registration Nursing/Midwifery student, but are also an International student, please use the International section below to find out more about the funds that may be available to you.

Discretionary Funds may be available to UK students who are undertaking a full-time Paramedic Sciences course, or Nursing or Midwifery course that leads to registration with the NMC. This includes Nursing and Midwifery students studying at both BSc and MSc levels.

The purpose of the Discretionary Fund is to provide additional financial support to eligible students who can demonstrate a need for this during the current academic session. Support is in the form of a non-repayable bursary and is designed to top up the student support received through Government. Discretionary Funds are intended to help meet basic living costs and assist a student in being able to engage and succeed in their studies.

To be eligible, students must be in receipt of the maximum student support available to them and can demonstrate a need for financial support whilst adhering to our various rates for appropriate expenditure.

Although funding comes from the Scottish Government, you do not need to be Scottish to be eligible but should be in receipt of full student support from Student Finance England, Northern Ireland or Wales.

You may apply if you struggle to make ends meet each month, or if you experience an unexpected cost that you have not budgeted for. These funds are limited, and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The fund will close often with little or no notice, when the budget has been exhausted.

Assuming you continue to meet all eligibility criteria, you could reapply each academic year - funding will not continue automatically.

It is unlikely that any award will cover your shortfall in full so we would encourage you to use money advice resources to help you budget effectively and get the most out of your money.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

Procedures & Guidance

The following documents will help you complete your application:

Paramedics and pre-registration Nursing and Midwifery Students may be able to apply for help meeting the cost of study related childcare through the UWS Childcare Fund. Full eligibility details can be found in the documents below.

This fund is unique to UWS, allowing us to offer additional financial support to help you meet the costs of childcare that may not be available in all universities.

You are applying for a contribution towards your study related childcare costs for an academic year, which will be determined based on your costs for the full academic year, and any other financial support for childcare costs that you should be entitled to, such as the SAAS Childcare Allowance of £2,466.

It’s important that you carefully consider the costs associated with using childcare, and do not rely on this fund as it is likely only to contribute a small amount towards your total childcare costs, as detailed in the documents below.

As this fund provides a contribution towards your childcare costs, you should be able to apply using your best estimate of your childcare costs for the entire academic year. You can find out more in the Factsheet below and will also find a Childcare Fund Factsheet that you should share with your childcare provider to help them understand how the fund works.

These funds are limited, and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The fund can close with little notice due to budget constraints and we would not want you to be disappointed.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. Students complete the main application and should ask childcare providers to complete the Childcare Form. Both elements should then be submitted by the student, along with the required supporting evidence.

You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

Procedures & Guidance

Asylum Seeker

The following funding may be available to you if you are an asylum seeker, and had this status at the point of applying to the University.

If you are currently an asylum seeker and had this status at the point of applying to the University, you may be eligible to apply for some financial support for your study related costs, through the Asylum Seeker Discretionary Fund. This applies to Asylum Seekers studying part time or full time, at undergraduate or postgraduate level, and who are in receipt of Asylum Support from the Home Office. 

The fund cannot contribute towards the cost of tuition or general living expenses but may help contribute towards the costs of study-related childcare, travel to campus, and course materials, such as stationary and IT equipment.

Where an award can be made, this will be determined based on individual circumstances and needs. Any award is in the form of a non-repayable bursary, so you do not to pay this back. We are also very mindful of Home Office restrictions around financial support for Asylum Seekers, so any award will be in the form of vouchers and/or direct payment to childcare providers.

Assuming you continue to meet all eligibility criteria, you should reapply each academic year, as funding will not continue automatically.

It is unlikely that any award will cover your study costs in full so we would encourage you to use our money advice resources to help you budget effectively.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

APPLYING FOR THE CHILDCARE ELEMENT?

If you also wish to apply for help meeting the costs of study related childcare, your childcare provider(s) will need to complete the separate childcare provider form, and you should submit this with your application. You should also read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

Procedures & Guidance

The following documents will help you complete your application

International

The following funding may be available to you if you are an international student, including EU students.

International Students may be able to apply for help meeting the cost of study related childcare through the UWS Childcare Fund. Full eligibility details can be found in the documents below.

This fund is unique to UWS, allowing us to offer additional financial support to help you meet the costs of childcare that may not be available in all universities.

You are applying for a contribution towards your study related childcare costs for an academic year, which will be determined based on your costs for the full academic year.

It’s important that you carefully consider the costs associated with using childcare, and do not rely on this fund as it is likely only to contribute a small amount towards your total childcare costs, as detailed in the documents below.

As this fund provides a contribution towards your childcare costs, you should be able to apply using your best estimate of your childcare costs for the entire academic year. You can find out more in the Factsheet below and will also find a Childcare Fund Factsheet that you should share with your childcare provider to help them understand how the fund works.

These funds are limited, and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The fund can close with little notice due to budget constraints and we would not want you to be disappointed.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. Students complete the main application and should ask childcare providers to complete the Childcare Form. Both elements should then be submitted by the student, along with the required supporting evidence.

You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

Procedures & Guidance

The Scottish Government have made funding available to support students studying in Scotland who are not eligible for home fee status and/or living cost support and are facing financial hardship as a result of a significant change of circumstances, and at risk of not being able to continue with their studies due to that hardship.

This fund cannot support any student with the cost of tuition.  

ELIGIBILITY FOR THE FUND

  • Students must be facing financial hardship as a result of a significant change of circumstances that has occurred after starting their studies and risks them being unable to continue with their studies due to that hardship.
  • Student must have applied to the Home Office for a form of leave or extension and are NOT eligible for living cost support from SAAS.
  • Student must be non-UK domiciled on an international fee place OR be UK domiciled but not
    eligible to receive living cost support from a UK funding body.
  • Students must remain engaged in their studies, i.e. those on a period of interruption, or where a period of interruption is due to begin, are not eligible to apply.

These funds are only available to those ‘international’ students who have applied to the Home
Office to reside or extend their stay in the UK. International students here on the normal student
visas will not be eligible to apply.

Students who were an Asylum Seeker at the point of making their application to the University should instead refer to the section of information specifically for Asylum Seekers.

Students who applied to the University as an international student and/or entered the UK on a student visa, but have since applied to the Home Office for asylum and been given the status of asylum seeker, may find themselves eligible for this fund, but eligibility rules are complex and you are advised to contact us for clarity.

AWARDS

Where an award can be made, this will be determined based on individual circumstances and needs. Any award is in the form of a non-repayable bursary and is designed to provide short-term support to eligible students to meet basic costs of living, in order to allow them some time to identify a longer-term plan.

MAKING AN APPLICATION

The rules around eligibility to this fund are complex. Any student who wishes to apply to the fund must first contact the Funding and Advice by email: fundingadvice@uws.ac.uk

Students should provide as much detail about their circumstances as possible. The Funding and Advice Team will then consider if those circumstances meet the criteria for the fund. If so, instructions for making an application will be provided.

Doctoral level study

The following funding may be available to you if you are undertaking a research degree, such as PhD, DBA, etc.

Doctoral Students may be able to apply for help meeting the cost of study related childcare through the UWS Childcare Fund. Full eligibility details can be found in the documents below.

This fund is unique to UWS, allowing us to offer additional financial support to help you meet the costs of childcare that may not be available in all universities.

You are applying for a contribution towards your study related childcare costs for an academic year, which will be determined based on your costs for the full academic year.

It’s important that you carefully consider the costs associated with using childcare, and do not rely on this fund as it is likely only to contribute a small amount towards your total childcare costs, as detailed in the documents below.

As this fund provides a contribution towards your childcare costs, you should be able to apply using your best estimate of your childcare costs for the entire academic year. You can find out more in the Factsheet below and will also find a Childcare Fund Factsheet that you should share with your childcare provider to help them understand how the fund works.

These funds are limited, and they are awarded on a first come, first served basis so it is recommended that you apply as early as possible to avoid disappointment. The fund can close with little notice due to budget constraints and we would not want you to be disappointed.

HOW TO APPLY

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. Students complete the main application and should ask childcare providers to complete the Childcare Form. Both elements should then be submitted by the student, along with the required supporting evidence.

You should ensure you read these carefully to ensure you submit the application and required supporting evidence in the format needed, which in turn allows us to assess the application and get back to you more quickly.

Procedures & Guidance

Last updated: 07/10/2024