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Birkbeck financial support scheme

The Birkbeck Financial Support Scheme provides a broad range of support to help you prepare financially for your course, and to assist you with any financial issues you may experience through the academic year. One-to-one advice will be available to assist you in accessing government financial support including student loans, grants and benefits. 

You may also be able to apply for additional financial help through the Birkbeck Needs-Based Assessment. Applications for this fund will take into account income and expected reasonable expenditure to determine if there is a need for additional financial support.

How to apply

  • When you complete your online enrolment, you will be asked if you wish to be considered for means-tested assistance. You must answer 'yes' to this question if you wish to be considered for the financial support scheme.
  • We will send you an email with a link to the Financial Support Enquiry Form, which is an online survey that helps us gather the information we need to give you focused guidance on the next steps of your application. We will aim to respond to your form within 10 days of submission. 
  • If you have previously answered ‘no’ but have changed your mind, you can still apply by getting in contact with the Student Advice Service. 
  • Your Financial Support Plan will include a range of detailed guidance available to you from Birkbeck and our external associates, such as the Citizen’s Advice Bureau. It also includes a link to a budgeting plan provided by the Money Advice Service which we encourage every student to complete prior to starting their course, or as soon after starting as possible.

Birkbeck needs-based assessment

The Birkbeck Needs-Based Assessment is for students who may require additional financial support to meet their living and additional study costs while they are studying. Applications for this fund will take into account income and expected reasonable expenditure to determine if there is a need for additional financial support.

Our calculation for this academic year includes increased amounts which factor in the cost-of-living crisis students are facing. Our administration of the BNBA fund follows the National Association of Student Money Advisers Higher Education Support Fund Guidance 2023-24. Students are expected to have accessed all government support schemes before being considered.

Students who are awarded funds for costs related to remote learning will be required to submit receipts, once the awards have been made and the relevant equipment purchased.

Eligibility for students starting in 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22, 2022-23 or 2023-24

  • To be considered for a Birkbeck Needs-Based Assessment (BNBA) Award you must:
    • be a Home/EU student
    • be studying at least 30 credits (ie 25% intensity) on a BA/BSc/LLB degree, or studying a full-time Certificate of Higher Education, or full-time Foundation Degree which you are starting in the 2019-20 academic year
    • have accessed all government financial support available to you including maintenance loans and benefits
    • normally have a household income of less than £25,000 (please note if your income is higher than this and you have high essential outgoings, you may still be able to apply)
  • Students beginning a part-time Certificate of HE or a part-time Foundation Degree in 2020-21 are not eligible to apply to this scheme; however, they may be able to apply for the Birkbeck Cash Bursary instead.

How to apply

  • When enrolling, you will be asked if you wish to be considered for means-tested assistance. You must answer 'yes' to this question if you wish to be considered for this scheme.
  • When the fund opens, you will receive an email which advises you to go to the application link on your My Birkbeck profile to complete the online application. 
  • You should then complete the online application, taking care to provide accurate details regarding your financial situation, in particular the details of your income and expenditure.
  • A provisional assessment will then be done of your eligibility for an award. Should you be eligible to apply, supporting evidence will be requested from you which you must provide to be considered for an award.
  • All students will receive a personalised financial support plan, which provides information regarding relevant support services at Birkbeck.

Value of award

  • Awards will be scaled based on study intensity and will take into consideration your individual circumstances.
  • Applications are assessed under what is called an ‘additional need’ method; we assess the difference between your expected income for the academic year and your anticipated essential expenditure. If the expenditure is higher than your income you are viewed as having an ‘additional need’ and may be eligible for an award.
  • Not all students will receive an award, but unsuccessful applicants will be encouraged to use our available support services.
  • The amount of award for successful applicants could be up to £4000 but will be dependent on the level of need that is calculated.

Deadlines

  • Applications for the Birkbeck Needs-Based Assessment will need to be received by 31 May 2024.