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.

What financial support can I access at King's?
International students at King's can apply for:

The King's Financial Aid fund: (UG and PGT students) Find out more information on how to apply on our Student funding webpages.

Postgraduate research students can apply for the PGR Financial Aid scheme; visit our Student funding webpages for further details on how to apply.

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.

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 application form please visit the Ameobi Hardship fund funding webpages.

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 webpages.

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.

To be eligible for the fund:

PhDs should normally be in the subject areas of arts and humanities (particularly history and literature).

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

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 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 the Churches together in Britain and Ireland webpages for more information about the fund.

Funds for Women Graduates

Emergency grants of up to £1,500 can be awarded to female students enrolled on a postgraduate course who face unexpected financial hardship. Foundation grants of up to £4000 are available to final-year and writing-up students undertaking PhD courses.

You can find more information on the Emergency grants on the Funds for Women Graduates webpages.

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; also from 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 students at a British University. For further information on how to apply, please contact Gilchrist Educational Trust (gilchrist.et@gmail.com) or visit the Gilchrist Grants webpages

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 be used to contribute towards tuition fees and living expenses.

The application form can be downloaded from the Great Britain-China Educational Trust webpages. 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 the Mary Trevelyan Hardship Fund webpages.

The Leche Trust

The Leche Trust will consider supporting non-EU overseas PhD students who find themselves in unforeseeable financial difficulty during the final six months of their course at a UK university. Grants are made towards living costs, not tuition fees, and the typical size of grant offered is £500 - £1,000.

For more information about the eligibility criteria, please visit the Leche Trust webpages. To request an application form, email info@lechetrust.org

Nora Henry Trust Grant

Grants are made to students from any country, with a preference for students from developing countries who are studying subjects which will be of use when the student returns to that country.
One off grants between £100 and £200 can be given towards books, fees, living expenses, travel and childcare.

You can obtain an application form from the Trust upon receipt of a stamped addressed envelope to:
Educational Grants Advisory Service,
Family Welfare Association,
501-505 Kingsland Road,
London E8 4AU.

For more information about the grant you can call the team at 020 7254 6251.

Schilizzi Foundation

The Schilizzi Foundation makes awards to students of Greek residency studying in the U.K. 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 on the Sidney Perry Foundation Webpages.

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:

You must be over 24, be resident in the UK during your course and be facing demonstrable financial need. To see if you are eligible, visit the Stapley Trust webpages.

To request an application form, email admin@stapleytrust.org

Other online grant/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

Important to know: Please note that 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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