Student Global Relief Fund

All registered Imperial College London students are able to apply.

Awards are not usually made within the first term of the academic year, unless exceptional circumstances have occurred after commencing study.

Please see full eligibility details on our Student Support Fund student guidance 2024-25.

Applications to the Student Global Relief Fund must be made via the Blackbullion platform. You will need to set up two factor authentication for secure access and apply via the Funds section in the Blackbullion platform. Once you have applied you will also be asked to complete the ‘Budgeting 101' pathway within the Blackbullion platform.

Please note the Blackbullion Privacy Notice applicable to this data protection: Blackbullion Privacy Notice

Awards will not exceed the amount of the original award or the Cost of Living in London figure for that study level and will be less any statutory funding that is available.

Grants

A grant does not need to be paid back. Awards are based on what we can see that you need to ensure you can pay for your living costs and tuition fees.

Loans

You can apply for a loan, or we may offer you a loan instead of a grant, which will need to be paid back. You will need to demonstrate how you will repay in your application and a loan may be offered instead of a grant where the national situation may be temporary.

All students have different levels of income and expenditure. We will apply a cap (based on the Cost of Living in London values) for all general living and household costs, such as rent, food, travel and utility bills.

As part of the assessment of your application, we will consider any information provided through your supporting statement alongside a financial surplus/shortfall calculation. We will assess each application on its own merit.

Applications are closely examined by an administrator who may also ask to meet with you in person to discuss your application. The administrator will make an initial assessment and recommend action based on their findings to a senior member of the Student Financial Support team who will review the recommendation and make a formal decision on the application.

You will be asked to be assessed annually in order for your funding to continue, this is to ensure that your situation hasn’t changed. Where the original award has been reinstated and there has been a duplication of funding the funding from the central fund needs to be repaid, repaying the grant for living costs first.

We aim to have an outcome of your assessment within 10 working days providing all the relevant documentation has been provided, however due to the nature of the fundraising involved it may take longer.

• Scholarship and/ or loan confirmation
• Most recent 3 months bank statement. We use this to confirm your current bank balance
• Pay slips if applicable so we can confirm your income
• Proof of outstanding debts like a credit card statement so we can confirm your expenditure
• Household utility bills so we can confirm your expenditure
• Accommodation tenancy agreement so we can confirm your expenditure and your living arrangements
• An email from your personal tutor supporting your application. They will need to confirm your attendance and that you are performing well academically and can attest to your potential
• If you are living with your partner you will also need to send us their bank statements and confirmation of any financial commitments
• If you are apply for assistance due to childcare costs we will need to see your child’s birth certificates and confirmation of their nursery costs
• In addition you may send us any other documentation which you feel may support your case such as a doctor’s letter or bailiff’s letter

We accept scanned copies of these documents which are kept securely. If you send us hardcopies you can collect these from the Student Hub or we will destroy these once they are no longer needed using our confidential waste disposal. 

Please note that you must register with the Blackbullion free online financial education platform and complete the Budgeting 101 pathway as part of your application to the Student Support Fund. You will likely find the Budgeting resource useful in identifying and calculating your income and expenditure.

Below is an example of the income table you will need to be complete.

Example: If you are in receipt of a £4,000 Bursary you will enter this as below:

We are always available to discuss your situation confidentially and assist with completing the application form.  Please contact us through by email at student.funding@imperial.ac.uk if you have any further questions.

You can appeal decisions by writing to sfs.feedback@imperial.ac.uk, who will consider your original application alongside any additional information you provide.