Support for learners facing exceptional financial circumstances.

If you are aged 18 or over or attain the age of 18 during the current academic year and are enrolled on a full-time nationally validated vocational course, or a part-time course (with the exception of Part-time A level) you may be eligible for financial help from the Hardship Fund. This is not a loan; it doesn’t have to be paid back. You must have applied for all other relevant sources of funding (e.g. Student Finance NI, FE Full Time and Part Time Awards etc) before applying for Hardship Funds.

The criteria for Hardship Funds:

1. Students should be enrolled on a full-time or part-time nationally accredited professional and technical course, entry level 1 to level 7, listed on the National Database of Accredited Qualifications (NDAQ) or prescribed list of FE courses.
   
   The Hardship Fund (Discretionary) cannot be used for the purpose of assisting Full-time HE students in the FE Sector in meeting the cost of tuition fees (assistance is already available through tuition fee loans)
2. Students undertaking GCSE, GCE, AS Levels or A Level provision can only receive assistance as part of a clear progression route to a higher level of qualification.
   
3. Students must be at least 18 or attain the age of 18 during the academic year (1st July to the end of their course). The definition of ‘Students aged 18 and over’ in each of the above categories may include any student who reaches the age of 18 on or after the 1 July preceding the start of the academic year. Within these overall parameters, colleges have the discretion to decide eligibility criteria and administrative procedures, provided that such criteria and procedures are applied on a consistent basis for all students. This could include students who become eligible from the date of their 18th birthday, or from the beginning of the term following their 18th birthday, providing there is no double funding from other sources e.g. Education and Library Boards.
   
4. Students must meet the residency requirements as detailed in the Education [Student Support] Regulations No2 (Northern Ireland) 2009.
5. All students who are eligible for an FE Award must in the first instance apply to Student Finance NI.
6. Students must have exhausted all other avenues of assistance before applying to the Hardship Funds.
7. Colleges should not accept applications from eligible students who have not applied for an FE Award, missed the FE Award closing date or failed to supply the relevant or supporting documentation required to process their FE Award application; unless the college deems that exceptional circumstances warrant support through the Hardship Fund.
8. Course hours can include time on a work / course placement.
9. Students on Higher Education courses MUST have agreed to take the full amount offered to them by the Student Loan Company.
10. The Hardship Fund is not available to students who are repeating courses/modules or to students who are continually absent from a course due to absence, including sickness (See Monitoring Attendance (Page 13).
11. Support is only available to Students whose course is part of their educational progression; unless the college deems that exceptional circumstances warrant support through the Hardship Fund. For example, a student who has a degree in civil engineering and because of the current economic climate needs to make a complete career change and requires new qualifications to do so.
12. The Hardship Fund is not available to students on a course that attracts a training allowance such as Training for Success, European Funded Projects, Steps to Work, Modern Apprenticeships, other publicly funded programmes or full cost recovery courses.
13. Hardship funds is not available to students in receipt of EMA
14. Additional criteria may be introduced or existing criteria relaxed if the funding is not sufficient to meet the number of applications received OR if the number of applications is low and therefore additional funds are available
15. All students must read and agree with the Hardship Fund Terms and Conditions before applying.
16. Other criteria may apply.

PLEASE NOTE: The Hardship Fund does not carry any assistance towards Childcare.

Hardship fund application forms are available at the following locations:

• Student Finance Office, Brunswick Street
• Guidance & Counselling Offices at each main College site
• Rosy Laing, Castlereagh Campus
• Reception Areas at Main Sites

You must read this information before completing the hardship fund application form.

Download Hardship Fund Form

Terms and Conditions