Access to Learning Fund (ALF) 2011/12
What is the Access to Learning Fund (ALF)?
The Access to Learning Fund is funding given to universities by the government to help students who are experiencing financial difficulty during their course. Awards are made on an additional need basis using an assessment process common to all applications.
For full-time students help can be given for:
- higher than expected costs
- unexpected costs (through an unforeseen change in circumstances perhaps) or serious financial problems for other reasons.
For part-time students a help can be given for:
- course related costs (contribution only) Any funding that a successful applicant receives from the Fund will be paid in the form of a grant, NOT a loan, which means that you do not need to pay this back to the University.
Can I apply?
Generally, only UK 'Home' students can apply to the Fund, i.e. those students who satisfy the residency criteria to receive Student Support (loans and grants) from Student Finance England.
You can apply to the Fund whether you are studying either an undergraduate or postgraduate course and either full-time or part-time. Priority groups of students are:
- students with children
- final year students
- mature students.
When can I apply?
Applications to the Fund are accepted throughout the academic year until the closing date or until funds are expended.
You can only make an application when you are registered on a course at the University and you have applied for maximum statutory support available to you and received the first instalment of your SFE maintenance loan.
Generally, you can only make one application in an academic year, although a second application can be considered under exceptional circumstances (full-time only). For example, if there has been a particularly high unforeseen cost, or a change in your circumstances. However, you are required to make an appointment with a Student Financial Adviser to discuss your situation before submitting a second application. To arrange an appointment, please telephone our reception on 0191 515 2933.
