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Mandatory Documentary Evidence for Digital Learning Fund

Full details of the mandatory documents required by applicants in all categories when applying for Birkbeck's Access to Digital Learning Fund.

Category A applicants

  • Applies to applicants in receipt of means-tested benefits or living with parents in receipt of means-tested benefits.
  • Documentary evidence must show your name and address very clearly. Failure to do so will result in your application being rejected.
  • Evidence required: a letter or a screenshot of an online account from the Job Centre or council letter/online account statement dated within the last four weeks prior to the submission of your online application for the Birkbeck Access to Digital Learning Fund (ADLF) which must show that you're currently in receipt of one of the following means-tested benefits:
    • Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance or
    • Universal Credit or
    • Income-based Employment and Support Allowance (Contribution-based will not be accepted).
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence of Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category B applicants

  • Applies to applicants with a mental health condition, disability or other long-term health condition who are not eligible for DSA support from the Student Loans Company.
  • You must submit these 3 types of mandatory documentary evidence:
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - Proof you're not eligible for DSA support: You are required to contact Birkbeck's and request an email to confirm that you have already applied for DSA from the Student Loans Company, but were unsuccessful in your application. Please take a screenshot of the entire email reply you received from the Disability team, or submit a PDF copy of their reply email.
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 - Income/Non-income. Evidence of household income, if working, or not-working and not receiving benefits: If working: A photocopy of your (and your partner's where applicable) P60(s), or a self-employment tax return for the 2023/24 tax year (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after this tax year has ended), or a Statement of Earnings/Employment History for this period from HMRC (+44 0300 2003 300).
    • or
    • If you received no income during the 2023/24 tax year and are not currently receiving benefits: You must submit a Statement of Earnings from HMRC  (+44 0300 2003 300) to confirm they have no record of income for you for this period (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended).
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 3 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category C applicants

  • Applies to applicants studying an Undergraduate Course and hold non-traditional entry route qualifications (such as a BTEC or Access qualification). 
  • You must submit these 3 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
  • Mandatory evidence 1 - Evidence of your highest qualification, such as a transcript or certificate from your non-traditional entry route qualification, such as a BTEC or Access qualification. 
  • and
  • Mandatory evidence 2 – Income/Non-income. Evidence of household income, if working, or not-working and not-receiving benefits: If working: A photocopy of your (and your partner's where applicable) P60(s), or a self-employment tax return for the 2023/24 tax year (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended), or a Statement of Earnings/Employment History for this period from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300). 
  • or
  • If you received no income during the 2023/24 tax year and are not currently receiving benefits: 1) You must submit a Statement of Earnings from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300) to confirm they have no record of income for you for this period (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended).  2) You must also provide a short statement to tell us how you supported yourself during this period, eg. reliant on parental income. 
  • and
  • Mandatory evidence 3 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category D applicants

  • Applies to applicants who hold Refugee or Humanitarian Protection Status.
  • You must submit these 3 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - Evidence of your status such as copy of your residence permit or Home Office letter. 
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 – Income/Non-Income. Evidence of Household income, if working, or not working and not-receiving Benefits: If working: A photocopy of your (and your partner's where applicable) P60(s), or a self-employment tax return for the 2023/24 tax year (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended), or a Statement of Earnings/Employment History for this period from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300). 
    • or
    • If you received no income during the 2023/24 tax year and are not currently receiving benefits: You must submit a Statement of Earnings from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300) to confirm they have no record of income for you for this period (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended).  
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 3 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category E applicants

  • Applies to students who are single parents 
  • You must submit these 3 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - A document showing that you are in receipt of child benefit.
    • and
    • Evidence of single occupancy of the household i.e. a council tax or child tax credit letter listing the residency of the household. Be aware that the above document confirming that you are in receipt of child benefit is not sufficient evidence to confirm you can be considered under this category. 
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 – Income/Non-income. Evidence of household income, if working, or not-working and not-receiving benefits: If working: A photocopy of your (and your partner's where applicable) P60(s), or a self-employment tax return for the 2023/24 tax year (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended), or a Statement of Earnings/Employment History for this period from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300). 
    • or
    • If you received no income during the 2023/24 tax year and are not currently receiving benefits: You must submit a Statement of Earnings from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300) to confirm they have no record of income for you for this period (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended).   
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 3 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category F applicants

  • Applies to applicants who are Care Leavers.
  • You must submit these 3 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - A letter from your Local Authority confirming your status.
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 – Income/Non-income. Evidence of household income, if working, or not-working and not-receiving benefits: If working: A photocopy of your (and your partner's where applicable) P60(s), or a self-employment tax return for the 2023/24 tax year (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended), or a Statement of Earnings/Employment History for this period from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300). 
    • or
    • If you received no income during the 2023/24 tax year and are not currently receiving benefits: You must submit a Statement of Earnings from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300) to confirm they have no record of income for you for this period (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended). 
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 3 - Quotes for IT Purchases – In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category G applicants

  • Applies to applicants in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.
  • You must submit these 2 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - Submit a letter confirming that you are in receipt of Carer’s Allowance dated within the last four weeks.
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category H applicants

  • Applies to applicants on the Compass Project.
  • You must submit these 2 types of mandatory documentary evidence:
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - Compass Project participation: If you are a student participating in the Compass Project scheme, you are required to submit the online application form using the weblink that will be sent to all Compass students who qualify to apply for this funding.
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Category I applicants

  • Applies to applicants assessed as an EU Student by SFE and not eligible for a Maintenance Loan (your SFE Student Support Number must start with EURS, this will be checked against our records).
  • You must submit these 2 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
    • Mandatory evidence 1 – Income/Non-Income. Evidence of Household Income, if working, or not-working and not-receiving benefits: If working: A photocopy of your (and your partner's where applicable) P60(s), or a self-employment tax return for the 2023/24 tax year (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended), or a Statement of Earnings/Employment History for this period from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300). 
    • or
    • If you received no income during the 2023/24 tax year and are not currently receiving benefits: You must submit a Statement of Earnings from HMRC (Tel 0300 2003300) to confirm they have no record of income for you for this period (or 2024/25 if submitting your application after the 23/24 tax year has ended). 
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 - Quotes for IT Purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom if this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section.  

Category J applicants

  • Applies to applicants who are an Ukrainian or Afghan student who has travelled to the UK on one of the listed schemes.
  • You must submit these 2 types of mandatory documentary evidence: 
    • Mandatory evidence 1 - A document showing your acceptance on one of the listed schemes (The Ukraine Family Scheme, Homes for Ukraine Scheme, Ukraine Extension Scheme, the Afghan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS), the Afghanistan Locally Employed Staff Ex-Gratia Redundancy and Resettlement Scheme and the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP).) 
    • and
    • Mandatory evidence 2 - Quotes for IT purchases - In addition to the above, students must also provide quotes for the cost of IT Purchases applied for – further information can be found at the bottom of this page in the Quotes for IT Purchases section. 

Quotes for IT purchases

  • In addition to the mandatory evidence for the category you are applying under, students must also provide quotations for the equipment they are applying for as follows:  
    • Quotations for laptop/desktop, broadband and other essential IT equipment: You are required to submit quotes to the Student Advice team, not to exceed the maximum award of £500, but be aware that if you have already purchased a laptop/desktop using ADLF funds from previous years, you are not entitled to apply for funds to purchase another laptop/desktop and no-exceptions will be made under any circumstances. Please read carefully as there are spending limits to some of the items described below. 
    • IT items 1: Laptop/desktop: Quotes from a laptop/desktop, or a receipt of a purchase made, dated within the current academic year 24/25. Students who received funds for a laptop/desktop using ADLF funds in previous years are not entitled to receive funds for a second laptop, as they are expected to take care of their device for the whole duration of their studies. 
    • IT items 2: Broadband: The award covers broadband costs for the academic year 2024/25 (10 months). Submit a quote, copy of current broadband contract, or a recent broadband monthly bill (one is sufficient), dated within the current academic year 24/25. The broadband contract/bill must show the following: 
      • a) The account holder name and address 
      • b) Date on bill 
      • c) A breakdown of costs clearly showing the specific monthly broadband, since charges related to extra services/equipment are not covered by the award. 

    • IT items 3: Other essential IT equipment: Quotes from other essential equipment such as a mouse, keyboard, laptop stand, basic headphones with microphone or headset (maximum of £30 p/item, and a total maximum of £90). The purchase of these items is accepted and can be covered by the fund. Non-essential equipment such as (but not limited to) memory sticks, cable chargers, mobile phone related equipment, webcams, tables, chairs, laptop bags/cases, stationery, etc, will not be accepted, as these are not considered to be essential equipment for digital learning.