University of Staffordshire cost of living scholarship

To be eligible for the University of Staffordshire Cost of Living Scholarship, you must meet ALL the following criteria: 

• You must enrol as a new University of Staffordshire student commencing year 1 of your full-time undergraduate degree in the 2024/25 academic year at our Stoke, Stafford or London campus. 

• You must be a home fee paying student [1] and paying the full tuition fee for your course. 

• You provide evidence from Student Finance that you have a household income [2] of no more than £24,999 per year 

• You have applied online to be income assessed by Student Finance at http://www.gov.uk/studentfinance and have a student support number from the relevant funding body 

How do I apply? 

• All the information we require to assess you for the Cost of Living Scholarship is part of your application to Student Finance. If you consent to be income assessed by Student Finance and consent to the sharing of the data with us. We will receive the data when you enrol.  

• When making your application to Student Finance, you must consent to share your household income details with University of Staffordshire [3]. If your parent(s)/guardian/partner has been income assessed to support your application, they must give their consent to share as well. Details of how you can give consent are set out in the Student Finance application process. 

• Please note that to be eligible for the Cost of Living Scholarship, your application with Student Finance MUST be income assessed. Even if you do not want to take out the maximum maintenance loan, you still need to be fully income assessed for us to view your household income information. We are not able to undertake any separate assessment of means in any circumstances. 

• If you have already submitted your application to Student Finance, please check to ensure consent has been given to share the information with University of Staffordshire prior to the start of the academic year. If we cannot view your income, we cannot assess you for the support. You can check your online account with Student Finance or for more information Student Finance can be contacted on 0300 1000 612.  

How will I receive the funding? 

• Assuming you have satisfied the criteria, you will receive an email from University of Staffordshire during the first term following your enrolment confirming your eligibility.  

• Payment will be made in sterling via direct transfer into your bank account, details of which will be collected as part of our Enrolment processes. This must be a UK bank account in your name.  

• You will receive your Cost of Living Scholarship in three equal instalments, one instalment after each student loan payment date during your first year. 

• The amount of the Cost of Living Scholarship for Academic Year 2024/2025 is a maximum of £750 so your instalments will be of £250 each.  

Additional conditions 

• You must be enrolled and actively engaged in your studies to receive each payment.  The University may withhold payments in the event of poor or non-attendance on your course 

• If you satisfy all criteria at any point during your first academic year the university will consider paying to you a proportionate amount of the Scholarship. All payments will only be processed in the academic year they relate to.  

• You should be aware that if you withdraw or are withdrawn by the University from study, this will result in the cancellation of any further eligibility for the Cost of Living Scholarship and no further payments will be made to you.

• If you are suspended from study, this may affect your entitlement to further payments. The University will consider all the circumstances, including the reasons for the suspension and an assessment of whether and when you are likely to return to your studies.  

• Should you receive payment from the Cost of Living Scholarship when you are not entitled to it, you will be required to repay all sums paid to the University  

• Should you owe any money to the University at the time when a payment would otherwise be due to you under the Cost of Living Scholarship, the University reserves the right to apply the payment to the reduction or satisfaction of your debt instead of sending it to you.   

[1] Home fee payers are defined as those who pay the UK student tuition fee.

[2] Household income always includes income you get from your own savings, investments, or property (for example dividends or rent).  It may also include your parents or partner’s income. This depends on your individual circumstances.

[3] Fees & Bursaries may share your household income data with other area within the university who are promoting schemes for students with household income up to £24,999.