International Support Fund

The purpose of the International Support Fund (also referred to as the "Fund" or the "Support Fund") is to help international students who are experiencing a financial emergency that has arisen as a result of a significant and unexpected event that could not have been predicted in their financial planning. It is expected that the student (hereafter referred to as "you") will have made reasonable provision to support yourself throughout your programme of study before you arrive at the University. This includes having enough funds to cover tuition fees, accommodation, food, household bills, clothes and entertainment costs.

The Fund cannot be used to cover a financial shortfall where you have not made reasonable efforts to manage your money effectively.

Each application is assessed individually against set criteria and is based on the evidence you provide. There is no guarantee that an application will receive funding and there is no automatic entitlement to financial assistance from the Fund. The International Support Fund is a cash limited fund which is subject to early closure in the event of funding coming to an end.

All international undergraduate and postgraduate students (including European students not eligible for a maintenance loan from Student Loans Company) who are registered and in attendance on a course at the University of Salford are eligible to apply if the following criteria are met. When applying to the International Support Fund you must be able to show that:

• You registered for your current academic year with sufficient funds to support yourself and pay your tuition fees;
• You or your sponsor have suffered an unprecedented event which could not have been predicted and is causing you severe financial hardship;
• The ‘emergency or unprecedented event’ took place after you registered for your current academic year and paid any deposit required;
• You have a package of funding in place to which the Support Fund may contribute.

In addition, if you are applying to the Support Fund to help with tuition fees you must be able to show that at least 70% of your total tuition fee has already been paid (this 70% can be made up of your sponsor’s payments, your own payments and any scholarship you have been awarded for fees). We will not be able to accept Support Fund applications for fee support from students who still have more than 30% of fees outstanding.

• Grants may be awarded for any amount up to a maximum of £2000 per academic year, for a maximum of three years
• If the Support Fund award is for tuition fees and the outstanding balance of fees is greater than £2000, the award will be conditional on the outstanding fee balance being reduced to £2000 or less by a specific date or a payment plan has been agreed with the University. If the applicant is unable to reduce the balance to £2000 or less by this date, the award will be cancelled

During the application process evidence of your financial emergency and the unprecedented event that has occurred is required. The application must always include third party evidence to support your claim.

If financial hardship has been caused by the withdrawal of sponsorship, you must submit evidence that your sponsor has suffered an unprecedented event that is preventing them from supporting you. For example:

• Medical evidence from a doctor or a hospital
• Evidence from an accountant that your sponsor’s business has been affected by an unprecedented event, such as political upheaval, natural disaster or economic crisis.
• Evidence from police, local government officials or an insurance company that your sponsor’s business premises / stock have been severely damaged or destroyed

You must also submit evidence to show that your sponsor was supporting you with tuition fees and living costs up to the point of the event. This could be evidence of:

• Direct transfer of money for fees from your sponsor’s bank to the University of Salford or,
• Transfer of money for fees / living costs from your sponsor’s bank account to your bank account and evidence of some of that money being used for fees.

Additional evidence

• A personal statement explaining the impact of the unprecedented event on your finances.
• Letter confirming sponsorship (if applicable)
• Six months' worth of most recent bank statements for all accounts in your name (including Savings, ISAs and non-UK bank accounts)
• An explanation of any incoming / outgoing funds into your bank accounts, including money borrowed from or lent to friends and family (annotated bank statements are acceptable). Please note all transactions over £100 must be clearly annotated and explanations must be factual with further evidence provided if requested for all UK and international accounts in your name. NB: it is important you are aware of Money Laundering in the UK. Further information can be found on the our website
• A copy of your tenancy agreement for your current registered UK address, which states your monthly rent
• Evidence of your monthly rent as an outgoing amount from one of your bank accounts
• Evidence of your regular essential monthly outgoings (such as water, gas, electricity, and food). If bills are included in your monthly rent cost, this would need to be evidenced in your tenancy agreement.
• Evidence of your current income – three months most recent payslips (if applicable)
• Evidence of your partner’s income – three months most recent payslips and bank statements (if applicable)

NB: A letter from your sponsor promising financial support is not sufficient – you must be able to show that your sponsor has made payments to you or the University in the same academic year for which you are applying to the Support Fund.

Applications for the 2023/24 academic year can be made from 18 September 2023 to 31 July 2024. Applications may not be accepted if you have less than eight weeks of your course remaining for the academic year (or six weeks if you are in your final year).

As part of the application process, you must attend an appointment to discuss your application. You will need to bring to your appointment any outstanding evidence that we may request by email after we review your application. Failure to provide all outstanding evidence within a set time will result in closure of your application.

Once you have attended your appointment, we aim to give you a decision in writing within two working weeks.

Appeals

If you wish to appeal it must be on the grounds of a change in your circumstances, you must submit your appeal within 10 working days from the date of your decision email. Please note the eligibility criteria as set out in our above guidance cannot be changed and is not grounds for an appeal.

You must write an email of appeal explaining why you are appealing and how your circumstances have changed to moneymatters@salford.ac.uk and mark for the attention of a Student Support Manager.

Appeals are considered by a Student Support Manager (or nominated colleague) and their decision is final.

If the award is for tuition fees it will be paid direct to the University’s Finance Department and credited to your account. If the award is for living costs or other exceptional costs, it will be paid by bank transfer to a nominated bank account in your name.

If your application is closed due to insufficient evidence, you may reapply if you are able to provide further evidence at a later date. We recommend that you discuss your evidence with an adviser from the askUS Money Advice and Funds Service before submitting a reapplication.

• Phone us on +44 (0)161 295 0023 (option 2, option 3)
• Email us at moneymatters@salford.ac.uk
• Visit us in University House, Peel Park campus