Hardship provision

If you find yourself in financial difficulty please contact the The Chaplain about loans and grants for which you might be eligible. The College Student Support Fund Committee awards grants and loans from the College funds to undergraduate and graduate students, and should also be approached to support applications to the University Hardship Committee. Home students are also eligible for assistance from the Government's "Access to Learning Fund", which is administered by the University.

Application forms are available from Julie Gerhardi in the Tutorial Office, and further information is contained in the financial guide for undergraduates posted on the Merton College website.

The Oxford Opportunity Bursary is new scheme for UK students who will enter University from 2006. The following information comes from the aforementioned website:

"If your residual household income is below around £37,425 you will receive a bursary towards your living costs. The bursary will be calculated on a sliding scale. If your family income is below around £17,500 and you are also in receipt of a full Higher Education grant, this scheme should ensure that you have sufficient funding to cover basic living costs during term time without taking out a Student Loan. You will receive a higher payment in your first year to help with start up costs for your degree. You do not have to complete a separate application form for the bursary. The University will receive the financial assessment of your household income made by your LEA and will use this to assess your entitlement to a bursary. If your LEA assessment changes, so will your entitlement to the bursary. This will normally be reviewed annually. If you are not eligible for a bursary when you start your course, but your family income falls subsequently, you can still receive an award in later years. The bursary will be administered by your college."

In addition, all students are eligible for College book grants (which cover 50% of the cost of books and photocopying needed for academic work), and may also apply for travel grants and research grants.

Specific help is available for clinical medical students towards the cost of essential equipment and laundry, and for first year Biologists to fund the mandatory field trip.

Full details of all financial assistance can be found on pgs. 12-14 of the College Handbook.