Apply for money support

How to apply for a discretionary/assistance fund

Follow the application process below if you want to apply for support from any of the following funds:

  • Discretionary Fund
  • Accommodation Enhancement Fund
  • Childcare Fund
  • Lone Parent Childcare Grant
  • Student Assistance Fund
  • Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Discretionary Fund

You will find the application processes for our other funds at the bottom of this page.

Make sure you read our fund information and check that you are eligible before starting your application.

Student Money Support Funds update

Applications are now open for all funds for the 2024/25 academic year.

Before you begin your application

  1. Read the Student Money Support privacy statement.
  2. Check you have the evidence required.
  3. If applying to the Childcare Fund, check you have read our Childcare Fund Fact Sheet for Students.
  4. Read the University Accommodation Enhancement Fund Guidelines.
  5. Learn how to download PDF bank statements. If your bank is not on this list then you should refer to your bank's own guidance on how to download PDF statements.
  6. Have all your evidence ready/accessible as you will need to upload all of your evidence to your evidence folder within 48 hours.
  7. If you need help with the application form, the evidence requirements, or the general application processes, especially if you have a disability or dyslexia, please talk to an adviser.
  8. For more information on the allocation of Discretionary and Assistance Funds, read our Allocation Guidance.

Starting your application

  1. Complete and submit your application form. At the end of your submission, tick the box to be sent an email of your responses.
  2. You will automatically receive an email containing a link to your secure evidence folder. This folder contains your Funds Application Excel Workbook and evidence list(s). You will have 48 hours from when you receive this email, to provide all information and evidence required.
  3. In your evidence folder, you will find your Fund Application Excel workbook. Edit this file and enter all of the income and expenditure relevant to you (and, if applicable, your partner) under the specific income and expenditure tabs at the bottom left of the workbook. Ensure you enter all income and expenditure amounts for both you and your partner (if applicable). You should only complete the Childcare tab if you are applying to the University’s Childcare Funds. Any password-protected cells are not to be filled in by applicants. You can only enter data in a colour-coded field. These are not password-protected. The data you enter into the workbook will automatically save.
  4. Ensure you read the evidence list(s) provided and upload all mandatory evidence. You must also provide any additional evidence that is detailed in the list which may apply to you, depending on your own circumstances. If you have a partner whom you live with, then all evidence will be required from them too.
  5. Upload your evidence to your folder by clicking the "Upload" tab at the top of the folder and choosing the documents from your desktop.

We ask that you complete the workbook and upload your supporting evidence within 48 hours of submitting your online application.

If all of the mandatory supporting evidence is not uploaded to your evidence folder by the time we start to assess your application we reserve the right to decline your application. If your application is declined, you will be required to complete the full application process again.

The mandatory supporting evidence required for your application is detailed in this evidence list.

This Application Guidance Checklist can assist you in fully completing the application process.

Start your Discretionary Fund application

Ensure you have read all eligibility criteria and what evidence is required before applying.

 

After you have applied

We aim to assess your application within three to four weeks from the date of submission. Timescales will vary depending on the volume of applications received. Applications will be assessed in the date and time order they are received. We cannot fast-track any assessments.

We will notify you of our decision by email. While your application is in process, you should check your university email regularly as further information may be requested.

Award payments

Discretionary Fund, Childcare Funds, Student Assistance Fund, and Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Discretionary Fund

If successful, your award(s) will be paid into the bank account you have stored on your portal page within two weeks from the date of your decision email. It is your responsibility to make sure your bank account details are correct. The Money Support team/Finance Office is not responsible for any awards that are paid into the wrong bank account. Missing bank account details will result in a delay to your award being paid.

Awards from the discretionary and assistance funds can only be paid into UK bank accounts. We are unable to make any bank transfer payments to international bank accounts.

Accommodation Enhancement Fund

If successful, your assessor will inform Accommodation Services of your award, and they will deduct the award amount from your outstanding annual rent balance. Accommodation Services will then inform you of your new reduced monthly direct debit charge.

If you leave/have left halls throughout the academic year, any award will be pro-rated against the number of nights you lived in university accommodation.

You may not receive an award if you have paid your annual accommodation balance in full.

Disagree with a decision?

Applicants who disagree with the outcome of their application are required to meet with a Money Adviser before making any formal request for reconsideration of the decision. In most cases, a conversation like this will allow applicants to present information not included in the original application, which could make a difference.

Applicants will be required to bring with them a completed Spending Review document which will be used as the basis for discussion with the Money Adviser.

Appointments to speak with one of our Money Advisers can be made via the Student Services Hub.

If, after speaking with a Money Adviser, an applicant still wishes to formally query their award, their reasons for disagreeing with the decision should be submitted in writing to the Deputy Head of Student Support Services within 28 days of notification of the award outcome being made. Such correspondence can be submitted via ask@stir.ac.uk where it will be forwarded appropriately.

Find out more about the appeals procedure and why some applications are refused. If you need help filling in a form, especially if you have a disability or dyslexia, please talk to an adviser.

Apply for additional support

The application processes for each of our additional support funds are detailed in the accordions below. Find out more about each fund and make sure you are eligible before you apply.

Before submitting an application for any of the additional funds, please read the Student Money Support privacy statement

Learn how to download PDF bank statements.

Isabella H. Stevens Loan Fund

The application process

  1. Submit your online application.
  2. Your assessor will then copy your Student Money Support Fund Application Excel Workbook over to your Isabella H. Stevens Loan Fund application and use your income and expenditure to assess this application.
  3. We aim to assess your application within 24 hours of you applying (or the next working day if you apply on a Friday or a bank/university holiday). University and bank holidays will delay the processing and payment.
  4. We will notify you of our decision by email. While your application is in process, please check your university email regularly.
  5. If awarded, we will email you with an Isabella H. Stevens Loan agreement. Please save and read this agreement. Then, please enter the amount you wish to borrow, sign the agreement, and save it. Please then reply to the email from your assessor with this signed loan agreement attached. We cannot process your award until we have received this.

After you have applied

If awarded, the Finance Office will pay your loan into the bank account you have stored on your portal page within two weeks from the date we receive the signed Isabella H. Stevens Loan Fund Loan Agreement. 

It is your responsibility to make sure your bank account details are correct. The Money Support team/Finance Office is not responsible for any loans paid into the wrong bank account. Missing bank account details will result in a delay in your award being paid. 

Loan awards can only be paid into UK bank accounts. We are unable to make any bank transfer payments to international bank accounts.

Marion Gibbs Housing Studies Internship Support Fund

The application process

Before starting your application, check you have the evidence required to apply to the Marion Gibbs Housing Studies Internship Support Fund. Please have all your evidence ready/accessible as you will need to upload all of your evidence to your evidence folder within 48 hours.

  1. Submit your online application.
  2. Complete and submit your application form. At the end of your submission, tick the box to send an email with your responses. 
  3. You will automatically receive an email containing a link to your secure evidence folder. This folder contains your Funds Application Excel workbook and evidence list. You are required to upload the supporting documentation to your evidence folder within 48 hours.
  4. In your evidence folder you will find your Funds Application Excel workbook. Please enter all of the income and expenditure relevant to you (and if applicable, your partner) under the specific income and expenditure tabs at the bottom left of the workbook. Please ensure you enter all income and expenditure amounts for both you and your partner (if applicable). Any password-protected cells are not to be filled in by applicants. You can only enter data in a colour-coded field. These are not password-protected. The data you enter into the workbook will automatically save.
  5. Please ensure that you read the evidence list provided and upload all mandatory evidence. If you have a partner with whom you live, bank statements will also be required for them.
  6. Upload your evidence to your evidence folder by clicking the “Upload” tab at the top of the folder and choosing the documents you have saved on your desktop.
  7. We ask that you complete the workbook and upload your supporting evidence within 48 hours of submitting your online application.
  8. If all of the mandatory supporting evidence is not uploaded to your evidence folder by the time we start to assess your application, we reserve the right to decline your application. If your application is declined, you will be required to complete the full application process again.

After you have applied

We aim to assess your application within three to four weeks. Applications will be assessed in the date and time order they are received. We cannot fast-track any assessments. We will notify you of our decision by email. While your application is in process, please check your university email regularly.

Award payments

If successful, your award(s) will be paid into the bank account you have stored on your portal page within two weeks from the date of your decision email. It is your responsibility to make sure your bank account details are correct. The Money Support team/Finance Office is not responsible for any awards that are paid into the wrong bank account. Missing bank account details will result in a delay in your award being paid.

Awards from the fund can only be paid into UK bank accounts. We are unable to make any bank transfer payments to international bank accounts.

Short-term loan

The application process

Before starting your application, check you have the evidence required. 

Please have all your evidence ready/accessible as you will need to upload all of your evidence to your evidence folder within one hour of application.

  1. Submit your short-term loan application.
  2. Provide as much information in the personal statement question about your reasons for applying. If there is not enough information, your assessor may have to contact you, and this will delay the process and any award.
  3. Within a few minutes of submitting your form you will be emailed a link to your evidence folder. You will need to provide any evidence relevant to your application, along with bank statements for your main every-day account covering the last three consecutive months (the full three months immediately prior to the date you submit this application). Please upload these documents within one hour of submitting your online application. 
  4. Additional information/evidence may be requested to ensure the appropriate support if being offered.

Due to audit purposes, we cannot accept bank statements that have been exported to Excel format or screenshots from mobile banking apps.

If all of your bank statements and other relevant evidence are not in your folder when we begin our assessment, your application will be declined. You will then be required to start the application process again.

After you apply

We aim to assess your application within 24 hours of you applying (or the next working day if you apply on a Friday or a University or bank holiday). University and bank holidays will delay processing and payment.

We will notify you of our decision by email. While your application is in process, please check your university email regularly.

If awarded, we will email you with a Short-Term Loan Agreement. Please save and read this agreement. Please sign the agreement and save a copy of the signed agreement. Please then reply to the email from your assessor with this signed loan agreement attached. We cannot pass your loan for processing until we have received the signed Short-term Loan Agreement. Any signed agreements returned after 12pm will fall into the next day’s payment run.

If successful, your loan will be paid into the bank account you have stored on your portal page 48 hours from returning your signed loan agreement or the following working day of returning your signed loan agreement on a Friday/bank holiday weekend.

It is your responsibility to make sure your bank account details are correct. The Money Support team/Finance Office is not responsible for any awards that are paid into the wrong bank account.

Loan awards can only be paid into UK bank accounts. We are unable to make any bank transfer payments to international bank accounts.

Repayment

If awarded, you will be responsible for repaying the loan, in full, six weeks after your application date. The Income Office will send a payment invoice to you for repayment purposes. Failure to repay will result in debt reminder notices. 

Rental guarantor scheme

The application process

Before starting your application, check you have all of the evidence required.

Please have all your evidence ready/accessible as you will need to upload all evidence to your evidence folder within 24 hours of application.

Once you have found and secured a place you want to live in and have obtained a tenancy agreement (this should not be signed yet but should contain all tenant, landlord, and property information), you can begin the application process.

  1. Submit your online application.
  2. Within a few minutes of submitting your application you be emailed an evidence folder. Please upload all mandatory evidence as detailed in the evidence list to your folder.

If all the supporting documents are not in your folder when we start your assessment, your application will be declined, and you will have to start the full application process again.

After you apply

Your landlord/letting agent is required to sign and return the legal paperwork. Due to this, we will require your application form and evidence at least seven working days before your entry date. 

Once the guarantee with the landlord has been agreed your tenancy will operate as normal; you should pay your rent directly to the landlord by bank transfer. If you cannot pay your rent you must immediately email the Deputy Head of Student Support at the University of Stirling (ask@stir.ac.uk) stating the reasons for non-payment of rent together with the amount due and the due date, so that the University is aware that the guarantee may be called upon.

If the University is required to pay your rent, the rental paid will be treated as a debt you owe to the University, and this will need to be repaid.