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 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 download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

If you have questions about the process or are struggling to complete and submit your application as detailed in the guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will do our best to help.

APPLYING FOR THE CHILDCARE ELEMENT?

You should read the Childcare Factsheets below, which detail what can be applied for and how to apply.

Applications, 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.

We will provide a flat rate award of £150 per 20 credit module, towards books/course materials and travel. You do not have to submit any evidence, such as receipts, in order to claim this. You can also use the award at your discretion, to best suit your individual needs. We would encourage students to interpret books/course materials broadly, and this may include anything from stationary to IT equipment.

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 download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application, and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

APPLYING FOR CHILDCARE?

We accept applications from those who require support meeting the costs of study related 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 will need to complete a form and you should read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

Applications, 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 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 download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

If you have questions about the process or are struggling to complete and submit your application as detailed in the guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will do our best to help.

APPLYING FOR THE CHILDCARE ELEMENT?

You should read the Childcare Factsheets below, which detail what can be applied for and how to apply.

 Applications, Procedures & Guidance

 The following documents will help you complete your application:

Discretionary and Childcare Funds are available to UK students, studying a taught programme, and funding their studies through the SAAS Postgraduate Loan Scheme, 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.

We will provide a flat rate award of £150 per 20 credit module, towards books/course materials and travel. You do not have to submit any evidence, such as receipts, in order to claim this. You can also use the award at your discretion, to best suit your individual needs. We would encourage students to interpret books/course materials broadly, and this may include anything from stationary to IT equipment.

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 download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application, and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

APPLYING FOR CHILDCARE?

We accept applications from those who require support meeting the costs of study related 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 will need to complete a form and you should read our Student Childcare Fund Factsheet for details of the childcare costs we can consider.

Applications, Procedures & Guidance

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.

6/3/24 NB: While we are still accepting applications to the fund, it is important to note that our budget is extremely limited, and we are now only able to accept applications from students who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of unforeseen or unexpected circumstances. 

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 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 and get the most out of your money.

HOW TO APPLY:

Application packs, guidance notes and procedures all follow. You should download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application and submit this to us in a format described, so that we are able to accept and process quickly.

If you have questions about the process or are struggling to complete and submit your application as detailed in the guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will do our best to help.

Applications, 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 application pack and fund procedure document 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 application pack and fund procedure document 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. You should download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

Students complete the main application and should ask childcare providers to complete the Childcare Form. Both elements should be submitted by the student, along with the required supporting evidence.

If you have questions about the process or are struggling to complete and submit your application as detailed in the guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will do our best to help.

Applications, Procedures & Guidance

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 application pack and fund procedure document 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 application pack and fund procedure document 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. You should download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

Students complete the main application and should ask childcare providers to complete the Childcare Form. Both elements should be submitted by the student, along with the required supporting evidence.

If you have questions about the process or are struggling to complete and submit your application as detailed in the guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will do our best to help. 

Applications, Procedures & Guidance

The purpose of the International Students' Emergency Fund is to provide financial support to international students who experience financial hardship as a result of a significant change of circumstances and are at risk of not being able to continue with their studies due to that hardship.

Changes of circumstances can include being unable to return home because of conflicts or the fear of persecution and must include an application to the Home Office for a form of leave or extension. International students here on the normal student visas will not be eligible to apply. 

Support is in the form of a non-repayable bursary and is designed to help meet basic living costs in the short term and assist a student in being able to engage in their studies, while identifying a longer-term solution.

We are unable to provide funding to help meet the cost of tuition, or where we identify an award will not have a positive impact.

If you feel you meet this criteria and would like to make an application to this fund, please contact us at fundingadvice@uws.ac.uk We will consider your circumstances, and if we determine you meet the criteria, we will provide further guidance on how you can make an application. 

There may also be times when we can allow students access to these funds in response to new global conflicts or natural disasters that might cause financial hardship, i.e. occurring/worsening after the decision was made to begin studies. In these instances we will proactively contact eligible students with details on how to make an application. We will use the information held within university systems to identify eligible students, such as nationality. 

 

 

 

Doctoral level study

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

Doctoral level 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 application pack and fund procedure document 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 application pack and fund procedure document 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. You should download these from here and follow the guidance carefully to complete your application and submit this to us in a format that we are able to accept and process.

Students complete the main application and should ask childcare providers to complete the Childcare Form. Both elements should be submitted by the student, along with the required supporting evidence.

If you have questions about the process or are struggling to complete and submit your application as detailed in the guidance, please do not hesitate to contact us via email and we will do our best to help. 

Applications, Procedures & Guidance

Last updated: 06/03/2024