Safeguarding

Higher Education Inclusion Fund

What is the Higher Education Inclusion Fund?

The Higher Education Inclusion Fund is a limited fund to support our Higher Education students who have exceptional or unexpected and unavoidable financial difficulties despite having received all financial support available to them.

Am I eligible to apply for the Higher Education Inclusion Fund?

To be eligible you must:

  • Be an enrolled student on a HE Course at South Thames Colleges Group
  • Have applied for your FULL Student Loan Application and be able to show written evidence of this
  • Have received your first Student Loan instalment or be able to indicate the reasons for the delay (for example a late application)
  • Provide supporting evidence of your income, general expenditure and need for support with an additional cost
  • Be classed as a home student

Please note that this is a limited fund and students must meet the eligibility criteria. This fund is intended to assist with exceptional or unexpected and unavoidable financial difficulties. Students are expected to have made provision for their living costs prior to commencing their studies. All students encounter costs for food, bills, leisure, clothes plus they may have to pay for accommodation, travel and course related costs however some students will choose to spend more than others and therefore students are expected to take responsibility in budgeting accordingly.

Please note that submission of an application does not guarantee funding.

How do I apply for support through the Higher Education Inclusion Fund?

  • Complete the application form below, answering all questions in full
  • Provide evidence of your household income and student finance entitlement
  • Return your completed application and evidence to the Student Support Services Team

Can I apply more than once?

You can only make one application per academic year. If your circumstances change during the year you can request a review.

What Happens Next?

Your application will be assessed and we will then write to you to advise you what support you are entitled to and how this will be provided. If your application is not successful we will write to you to notify you of this.

Can I appeal against the College’s decision?

You do have the right to appeal. If you wish to appeal please refer the College appeals process, available on the College website, or contact the Student Support Services Team.

How will I be paid?

The Higher Education Inclusion Fund is paid directly into your bank account, so you MUST have an account in your own name. If you cannot open a bank account please inform a member of the Student Support Services team (in very exceptional circumstances we can issue cheques) and there must be a legitimate reason for you NOT to have a bank account.

HE Inclusion Fund 2024/25 Application Form

Your application will only be considered when you have completed and signed this form and provided evidence to confirm eligibility and show financial need.

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Please tell us your first name
Please tell us your last name
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Please enter a valid email address
Please enter a contact number
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Please state who you live with

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Please confirm your residential status in the UK

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If you have selected 2, 3 or 4 you must provide a Home Office letter or passport to prove your residency status

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Course Information

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Bank Details for Payments (this Bank account must be in your own name)

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Evidence

To apply for the HE Inclusion Fund you must provide evidence of exceptional or unexpected and unavoidable financial difficulties. You must also provide evidence of your FULL Student Loan Application.

Please indicate ALL benefits/ Income your household receives. Please also provide evidence of this with your application (photocopies only).

Name of Income / Benefit

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Evidence Needed (photocopies)

If you receive an HE Grant, Maintenance Grant, Maintenance Loan, Parents' Learning Allowance, Adult Dependants' Grant or Childcare Grant, please upload a photocopy of your Student Finance Letter below:

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If you receive a Bursary or Scholarship, please upload a photocopy of your Confirmation Letter below:

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If you receive a Disabled Students Allowance, please upload a photocopy of your DSA Award Letter from Student Finance below:

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If you receive an income from employment, please upload payslips for the last three months below:

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If you receive income from self-employment, please upload a photocopy of your most recent Self-Assessment Tax Calculation (Gov.uk assessment) below:

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If you receive a Career Development Loan, please upload a photoshopy of your Award Letter or Bank Statement showing payment below:

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If you receive Child Tax Credit, please upload a photocopy of all pages of your most recent Tax Credit Award Notice or recent Bank Statement showing payment below:

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If you receive Working Tax Credit, please provide a photocopy of all pages of your most recent Tax Credit Award Notice plus Parents/ Carers payslips for the last three monthsAll pages of most recent Tax Credit Award Notice plus Parents/ Carers payslips for the last three months below:

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If you receive Income Support, Employment Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit, Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Pension credit, please upload a photocopy of a Recent Bank Statement showing payment or letter confirming benefit (no more than three months old) below:

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Savings

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Household Expenditure

Please indicate your monthly household expenditure:

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We will contact you upon receipt of your application. Please note that it can take 7-10 to process your application.

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