Undergraduate Financial Support
At Pembroke, we recognise that financial worries can be a concern for students and their families, and we are always willing to discuss the availability of support if needed. To talk confidentially about financial matters or to arrange a hardship assessment once you are on course, please contact Kirstie Morris (Academic Support Officer) at kirstie.morris@pmb.ox.ac.uk We’re here to help!
My name is Kirstie Morris and I am the Academic Support Officer at Pembroke College. I have access to a range of different funds to help students struggling with difficult financial circumstances, and I’m always happy to give advice and assistance to anyone who wants to apply! Please contact me anytime if you are having worries about your funding, big or small, and I will direct you towards the best avenue of support if available. Don’t hesitate to reach out – we might be able to help!
The pandemic affected lots of people in different ways; for me, it meant that working through the summer vacation of 2020 was no longer an option, as I had to shield in order to protect a vulnerable parent. I was relying on that work to help fund my Medicine degree, and was extremely worried about my finances without it, so I contacted the College to see if they could help. Pembroke’s hardship fund was able to fill in my unexpected shortfall, reducing my stress and letting me get back to learning how to combat this (and any future) medical crisis.
Oxford Bursary
If you are an Undergraduate Home (UK) student from a lower-income household, you will be eligible to receive an annual non-repayable Oxford Bursary and/or Crankstart Scholarship to help with living costs. No separate application is required; applicants just need to complete a financial assessment when they apply for UK Government Funding, and share their household income with the University. Students receive between £200 and £4500 each year of their course depending on when they started their course and their household income. For more information, please see the University’s page.
Funding for Students with Disabilities
Enquiries regarding funding for students with disabilities are handled by the Disability Advisory Service. Disabled Student's Allowances (DSAs) are available to all Home students. DSAs are not means tested and are do not need to be repaid. Details are available on the GOV.UK website.
Care Experienced and Estranged Student Funding
If you are an Estranged or Care Experienced student, there is additional support and funding available to you. Please see here for more details, and contact the Academic Office (academic.office@pmb.ox.ac.uk) if you would like to apply.
If your access to funding changes or you run into financial difficulties while you are on course, there are a variety of assistance funds to help support you.
Oxford Hardship Fund (OHF)
The Oxford Hardship Fund is provided by the government and is administered and distributed by the University. Application forms are available in College from the Academic Office – please contact the Academic Support Officer to arrange an eligibility assessment. The awards are for undergraduate or graduate students experiencing persistent or serious financial difficulty. The maximum award is £6000 and may be a combination of a grant or a loan.
Find out more about the Oxford Hardship Fund including eligibility and the application process, on the relevant Oxford University webpage.
College Hardship Grants
College hardship grants are for hardship not covered by the University funds (see above), or to supplement them. Any matriculated student may apply. The maximum grant available is normally around £1000, and smaller amounts (less than £200) should be directed to the JCR Art Fund below if possible. Please contact the Academic Support Officer to arrange an eligibility assessment and/or to apply.
JCR Art Fund Hardship Grants
The JCR Art Fund provides hardship grants all year round for unexpected or sudden (and not persistent) financial hardship. Examples may include a broken laptop, an emergency trip home, or a stolen bike etc. but this list is not exhaustive. There is no maximum amount for which students may apply, but it is generally designed to cover smaller amounts – if you have a long-term or severe problem you should approach the Academic Office about one of the funds above. Further information regarding eligibility and the application form can be acquired from the current JCR Vice-President.