I’m an International student, what financial support can I access?

This article is for international students facing financial hardship during their studies, usually as a result of unforeseen circumstances.

Unlike students from the UK, you will not be eligible for any statutory funding from the UK government, so you may need to explore alternative sources of funding. This may include funding from your home government, as some countries offer loans and grants to students, including those overseas.

Important to know: You can see the full list of funding opportunities for Undergraduate and Postgraduate students at King's on our Student funding webpages.

Other sources of funding:
We have listed other sources of charitable funding and grants which you may wish to consider:

Ameobi Hardship Fund for International Students

The Ameobi Hardship Fund seeks to assist current international students whose funding has suddenly ceased due to circumstances beyond their control. The grant is meant to help the beneficiary with tuition fees, with a maximum grant of £1000 at any one time.

To be eligible for the fund:

You must be nearing the completion of your studies/research in any UK Higher Education Institution.

For further information and the application form please visit Ameobi Hardship fund funding.

Anglo-Jewish Association

The Anglo-Jewish Association offers grants to assist current British and Israeli Jewish students in the UK who are experiencing financial difficulties during their studies. For further information, visit the Anglo-Jewish Association.

Bestway Foundation

The Bestway Foundation gives grants to students from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on a one-off or recurrent basis according to needs. Contact the Bestway Group for more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply for the fund.

Charles Wallace India Trust

The trust awards modest grants to Indian students in the final stages of their PhD study in the UK, to help fill gaps in students' funding. Amounts awarded are usually between £500-£600.

To be eligible for the fund:

PhDs should normally be in the subject areas of arts, heritage conversation, and humanities (particularly history and literature, but not exclusively).

For more information on how to apply for the fund, visit Charles Wallace India Trust.

Churches Together in Britain and Ireland (CTBI) Hardship Fund

The CTBI hardship fund was set up by the former Churches Commission for International Students (CCIS) in 1990 to assist international students from developing countries, irrespective of their race, sex, or religion, who are already in Britain or Ireland and who face unexpected financial problems during the final 6 months of their degree course.

Awards (typically up to £1000) are normally made to those who can clearly show that a small grant will enable them to complete their course, normally those who are within six months of finishing. Visit Churches together in Britain and Ireland for more information about the fund.

The Gilchrist Educational Trust

Applications are considered from students who have made proper provisions to fund a degree or higher education course but find themselves facing unexpected financial difficulties which may prevent completion of it.

It is also available to students who are required, as part of their course, to spend a short period studying abroad.

To be eligible for the fund:

You must be a full-time student at a British university. For further information on how to apply, please visit Gilchrist Educational Trust.

Great Britain-China Educational Trust

The Great Britain-China Educational Trust awards grants to Chinese nationals who are in the third / final year of their PhD in any subject at a UK university. Awards usually range from £1500 - £2000, and can contribute to tuition fees and living expenses.

For more detail and the application form, please visit Great Britain China Educational Trust.

For any enquiries regarding the fund please contact trust@gbcc.org.uk.

International Students' House - The Mary Trevelyan Hardship Fund

The Mary Trevelyan Fund is a hardship fund available to students in London who have found themselves in unexpected financial difficulties during their studies.

Awards are usually made to students in their final year of study and are not normally able to be used to pay tuition fees. To download an application form, visit Mary Trevelyan Hardship Fund.

Schilizzi Foundation

The Schilizzi Foundation makes awards to students of Greek residency studying in the UK. Awards are normally made to students pursuing undergraduate degree courses or vocational training in Great Britain where it can be shown that there is a real need for financial assistance.

Such help may be with books, tuition fees and living expenses. Priority is given to students in their final year of study and in circumstances of unforeseen hardship. Postgraduates and second-year students will only be considered in very exceptional circumstances.

For an application form, please write to the Foundation Secretary:
The Secretary,
The Schilizzi Foundation,
Rowan, Turweston,
Brackley,
Northants NN13 5JX

For more information about the scheme email: admin@schilizzifoundation.org.uk

Important to know: Your completed application form must be submitted by a counsellor/advisor at King’s on your behalf. Contact Advice and Guidance for support with this.

Sidney Perry Foundation

Grants are usually made to home and overseas students studying their first degree and facing financial hardship up to a maximum of £1000. More information and application forms are available at Sidney Perry Foundation.

The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust:

The Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust funds students pursuing degrees in medicine, dentistry and veterinary studies and postgraduate degree students from all fields of study.

Applications are welcome from students beginning their first year of study, as well as from those already embarked on their degree course.

To be eligible for the grant:

Be resident in the UK during your course and be facing demonstrable financial need.
For more detail, visit the Stapley Trust.

Other online grants/scholarship search tools

The resources below are other online search tools for possible grants and bursaries you may be eligible to apply for.

Turn2us
The Scholarship Hub
Alternative Guide to Postgraduate Funding
Blackbullion funding search
UCAS: Additional Funding

Important to know: King's does not endorse any of these search engines, or the results found.

Keywords: International student, financial support hardship

I’m an International student, what financial support can I access?

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