The 2025/26 Doctoral Researcher Hardship Fund is now open for applications from eligible, fully enrolled doctoral researchers registered on MPhil/PhD Programmes at the University of Westminster.
The Doctoral Researcher Hardship Fund aims to support doctoral researchers facing unexpected financial challenges, ensuring that PhD candidates, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to succeed and thrive in their educational pursuits.
The scheme aims to help and award doctoral researchers with funds to respond to unexpected or unforeseen costs. The scheme cannot be used to pay tuition fees.
Am I eligible to apply?
The scheme is open to fully enrolled doctoral researchers on full-time and part-time MPhil/PhD Programmes at the University of Westminster who can demonstrate financial need.
The Fund cannot provide the main financial support for your studies, and you will be expected to have explored all avenues of financial help before applying.
Priority will be given to:
- Doctoral researchers who have experienced sudden and unforeseen financial difficulties
- Doctoral researchers who can demonstrate that they do not have access to emergency funds
- Self-funded doctoral researchers
- Doctoral researchers entering the 3rd year (or part time equivalent) or later in their programme.
- Doctoral researchers from underrepresented and marginalised communities
- Doctoral researchers who are primary caregivers or have dependents
You are not eligible to apply if you are:
- Not enrolled at the University of Westminster
- A doctoral researcher currently on suspension
- A doctoral researcher on Distance Learning or PhD by Published Work programmes.
- A doctoral researcher who has not taken out the maximum support available to them from a Postgraduate Doctoral Loan (if eligible).
- A self-funded student whose tuition fees have not been paid in accordance with the instalment plan shown on the Paying your fees page. This includes postgraduate research students in receipt of the Doctoral loan as the loan is paid directly to the doctoral researcher. If you have an outstanding fee balance, your application will not be considered until this has been paid.
- A new Doctoral Researcher within the first semester of your course, as funds are for unexpected hardship and doctoral researchers are expected to have made provision to fund their studies before taking up a place. If you submit an application during this time, it will not be considered.
For further information about external funding opportunities or government support, please refer to our Other funding options and Bursaries and awards for current students pages.
How is my application assessed?
The Graduate School team will assess your application before passing it on to the Doctoral Researcher Hardship Fund Advisory Board for review and final decision. The Board will also provide strategic guidance for the fund and is constituted of:
- Head of the Graduate School
- Assistant Head of the Graduate School
- Associate Head of College
- EDI Manager
When deciding about an award, we look at the shortfall between your expenditure (as defined by national guidelines) and your expected income. The allocation of funds will be based on the severity of need and the potential impact on the doctoral researcher’s academic success.
Please note that non-essential expenditure may be considered and could reduce your award or even result in your application being rejected. Examples of this type of expenditure includes online gambling, private school fees, private healthcare, and excessive spending on social activities.
If your application is incomplete, unclear or does not contain all the requested documentation, it will delay our decision. Please note that we reserve the right to request additional information if it would help with assessing your application.
How much will I be awarded?
An award can be anywhere between £100 and (in exceptional circumstances) £3,000. The maximum level of award is only given in situations of extreme hardship, it is not the standard level of award.
The exact amount of award will be determined by the Doctoral Researcher Hardship Fund Advisory Board depending on the level of financial need you demonstrate. Please bear in mind that demand always exceeds the funds available, so any award made will not cover the full shortfall you have, and you should not assume that you are receiving an award until you are notified.
Awards from the Doctoral Researcher Hardship Fund are not required to be repaid.
Please note, if you are awarded a grant via the Hardship Fund and are claiming benefits this may affect the benefits you are entitled to. Please contact colleagues in the Student Advice Team if you have any concerns about this.
How will I be notified and paid?
We aim to provide a written decision within 8-10 weeks of your application being submitted, although at busy times and vacation periods this may not always be possible.
You will receive an email informing you of our decision and if successful, the expected payment date which is usually 2 weeks after.
Multiple applications
If you have not previously been successful, you may submit further applications throughout the academic year.
Doctoral Researchers can only receive one award over the entirety of their registration period.
Application Deadlines
There are 3 application deadlines each academic year:
- 16 February 2026
- 13 April 2026
- 15 June 2026
Still not sure whether to make an application?
You might not want to apply because you think there are more deserving cases than yours. Please know the assessment calculations we make will determine if you are showing financial need, so we would always encourage you to apply. The purpose of the scheme is to assist as many eligible doctoral researchers as possible.
How do I apply?
The 2025/26 Doctoral Researcher Hardship Fund is now receiving applications.
Please complete an application form.
What do I need to apply?
As part of your application, you will be required to submit:
- A supporting statement that explains your personal circumstances and why you are applying. Your statement should not exceed 500 words and must also include:
- How you made adequate provision for your tuition fees and living costs before starting your course
- Any changes to your financial position during the academic year
- Any unexpected costs or circumstances affecting your finances
- Your Doctoral Loan notification of entitlement letter (if applicable).
- Details of what action have you taken to help your situation (e.g. obtained paid employment, arranged loans, set up a fee payment instalment plan with the University Finance office etc)
- Full bank statements for all accounts covering the three months prior to application submission.
- A list/explanation for any transactions over £200 (if applicable).
- Any other supporting documentation.
To complete the application form we advise you to have these documents prepared and ready to upload as it is not possible to save and return to the form at a later date.
Further information and sources of funding
For more information on external funding opportunities or government support, visit the Other funding options page.
Doctoral Researchers may also wish to review possible funding options here: