Summer Fund

When is the Summer Fund available?

The Summer Fund is now closed.

Other funds and support

NHS Exceptional Support Fund (ESF)

If you're a healthcare student you can still apply for the NHS Exceptional Support Fund (ESF). You do not need to apply to the Student Support Fund first.

This is a means-tested and non-repayable grant of up to £3,000, available to eligible healthcare students who experience unforeseen financial hardship during their studies.

This additional funding is not available to students doing the BSc(Hons) Social Work, BSc(Hons) Sports Rehabilitation, MSci Optometry or the Foundation programme for Professions in Health and Social Care during the foundation year. 

Find out more about the fund, including the eligibility criteria and how to apply on the NHS Business Services Authority website.

Money Advisers

If you're experiencing exceptional financial hardship that will prevent you from attending or continuing on your course, please contact a Student Money Adviser.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply if you are a returning Home (UK) student and one of the following applies:

• looking after dependants (adult or child)
• unable to work due to illness
• disabled (in receipt of Special Support Grant or Special Support Element of the Maintenance Loan and/or in receipt of DLA or PIP)
• re-sitting examinations/coursework
• completing a dissertation
• on an NHS placement outside the standard course programme
• confirmed as a care leaver, carer or estranged by UWE Cares.

or

• final year Home (UK) student re-sitting examinations/coursework.

Ineligible students

You cannot apply for the fund if you fall into any of the below categories:

• Students who haven't taken out all of the funding available to them during the 2025/26 academic year, i.e. student finance maintenance loan, unless they are prevented from doing so due to their religious beliefs.
• EU/Offshore/International students – please refer to the International Summer Fund.
• Students who have completed their course (even if you are starting a new one in September).
• Part-time students, unless you must attend UWE Bristol over the summer or have childcare costs incurred to maintain the place.
• Students unable to secure work over the vacation, unless you satisfy one of the other eligibility criteria.

Applications and supporting evidence 

Once you have completed the online application, you will be required to submit your supporting evidence via email. A full list of the required evidence and a BACS payment form will be emailed to you once you have submitted your application form.

Evidence required includes (but may not be limited to):

• three months of recent statements for all bank, building society, savings and ISA accounts
• evidence of summer housing costs
• evidence of your 2025/26 student funding (if applicable).

We will not be able to process your application until we receive your supporting evidence and BACS form.

Applications are processed in line with the rules of the Summer Fund, which are decided by the Funds Team in agreement with the Funds Team Manager and informed by the guidelines produced by the National Association of Student Money Advisers.  

Download the Student guide to the Summer Fund (PDF). 

If you need any further guidance, please contact the Student Money Service:

• Email: sms@uwe.ac.uk
• Call: +44(0)117 32 85678