Research into reform of Hardship funds across UK - 2015

1. HARDSHIP FUND REFORM
Many of you will know that hardship funds across the UK are undergoing a process of considerable reform. For example, funding that was part of the Access to
Learning Fund (ALF) has been transferred to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) from the last academic year 2014/15 creating the Student
Opportunities Fund. Further the Welsh Government are planning to abolish the Financial Contingency Fund (FCF) in Wales entirely, placing greater emphasis on
higher education institutions to source support for their students out of their own budgets.
As a result, NASMA (via the Financial Capability & Research Board) conducted this research in collaboration with Aberystwyth University and Aberystwyth University
Students’ Union. The survey data was captured between April and May 2015 and was taken from across all parts of the UK and includes Further and Higher education
establishments as well as Students’ Unions. We heard from 57 respondents. We will present this data in 5 parts. We hope that you find this data useful.
RESPONDENTS
INTRODUCTION
September 2015 Page 1/6
Higher Education Institution (HEI)
Further Education Institution (FEI)
Students’ Union
Both HEI & FEI
Wales
Scotland
Northern Ireland
England
Type of organisation
Home nations of respondents
79%
14
%
7% 0%
86%
9%
4%
0%
Number of applications
More than 2000
10.9%
1500 - 2000
23.6%
1250 - 1500
12.7%
1000 - 1250
25.5%
800 - 1000
10.9%
650 - 800
3.6%
400 - 650
250 - 400
100 - 250
Less than 100
7.3%
1.8% 1.8% 1.8%