Access to Learning

More help with living and accommodation costs is available in the form of the Access to Learning Fund. This is for enrolled students on a low income who require additional help to stay on their course. Particularly, the fund can: 

• Meet particular costs which are not already being met from other grants 
• Help if students are in financial hardship 
• Provide emergency payments for unexpected financial crises 
• Help students who may be considering giving up their course because of financial problems.       

If you wish to apply to the access to learning fund you must:

• Live in the UK 
• Have taken out your full student support entitlement available from your Local Authority (if eligible) 
• Be a full or part-time student (studying at least half of an equivalent full-time course) - you will be assessed on your individual circumstances       

The following groups of students are a priority for getting help from the Access to Learning Fund:  

• Students with children, especially lone parents 
• Other mature students, especially those with existing financial commitments 
• Students from low-income families 
• Disabled students (if your disability prevents you from studying 50 per cent of a full-time course, you will also be eligible for help as long as you are studying 25 per cent of a full-time course) 
• Students who have been in care 
• Students from hostel or housing projects, or who are homeless 
• Students in their final year.               

The Student Finance Advice Centre will decide whether you are able to get this help and if so, how much you can receive. This will depend on your own individual circumstances. Payments are made in cheque format and it is up to the Student Finance Advice Centre whether to pay you in a lump sum or in instalments. You must be a registered, enrolled student before you can receive any money.

How to find out more
You can pick up an Access to Learning Fund application form at the following places:  

• Student Finance Advice Centre, Student Services, Gateway House, Ground Floor, Leicester City Campus 
• Associate College students can collect an application form via their college's Student Services department.                    

For further information regarding the Access to Learning Fund please contact the Student 
Contact: +44 (0) 116 257 7597 or visit dmu.ac.uk/studentfinance