What is the Access to Learning Fund?
If you find yourself in financial hardship or have above average study costs, you may be eligible to apply for a grant from the Access to Learning Fund. If you're considering leaving higher education because of financial problems, you're particularly encouraged to apply.
Awards from the fund are discretionary, means-tested and we may not be able to meet all of your costs. Early applications are recommended as funds are limited and can run out.
Who can apply?
To be eligible to apply you must have Home fee status and be enrolled on a full-time or part-time on-campus programme.
How often can I apply?
You can normally apply to the Access to Learning Fund (ALF) once per academic year. A second application to the fund will only be considered in exceptional circumstances. Additional evidence will be required
Before you apply
- Undergraduates must have taken out their full entitlement of Maintenance Loan before being eligible to apply
- Undergraduates with pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme who do not qualify for a Maintenance Loan must demonstrate that they have made realistic provision to fund their living costs before applying
- Postgraduates must have taken their full entitlement of the Master’s Loan or Doctoral Loan
- Postgraduates must demonstrate that they have made realistic provision to fund their fees and living costs before applying
- If you are a full-time undergraduate, you are expected to have a student account with interest-free overdraft facility - if you are experiencing difficulties in opening a student account, please explain the issues in your application form
Tuition fees
The Fund cannot help with paying tuition fees. If you're a full-time undergraduate student you may be apply for a tuition fee loan from Student Finance England. If you're a postgraduate student, you may be eligible to apply for a Master's Loan or Doctoral Loan from Student Finance England.
Priority for assistance
Priority is given to the following groups of students when deciding how to allocate the funding:
- Students receiving the final year loan rate, who are in financial difficulty.
- Students with caring responsibilities.
- Students with children (especially lone parents).
- Mature undergraduate students, especially those with existing financial commitments, including priority debts.
- Students from low-income families.
- Students who are displaced people, refugees or asylum seekers.
- Estranged students and those with experience of care.
- Disabled students (especially where the DSA is unable to meet particular costs).
- Students who have entered higher education from Foyers or who are homeless.
How to apply
To apply for the SOAS Access to Learning Fund please complete the SOAS Hardship Fund Application and upload the required documents.
Please use the statement section of the form to explain your current financial situation and how this is impacting on your studies.
Applications take 4 weeks to process and you will be contacted by email with the outcome of your application.