By £50 million to help all students impacted by Covid-19
Government announced £50million of new funding will go to universities to help students facing financial difficulties arising from the impact of coronavirus.
Universities Minister has announced thousands of students will benefit from an additional £50 million to support them with financial pressures from the pandemic.
This will be in addition to the £20 million announced in December, bringing the total to £70 million for this financial year.
Universities will distribute the funding and will be able to prioritise the funding to those most in need of help.
The new funding will help those facing additional costs for alternative accommodation, loss of employment, or extra costs to access their teaching online.
This announcement follows the decision from many universities and accommodation providers to offer rent rebates for students who need to stay away from their term-time address.
The Government has encouraged others to join them and offer students partial refunds.
Universities Minister Michelle Donelan said: “This continues to be an incredibly difficult and challenging time for our students, and I am hugely grateful to all the university staff working hard to prioritise their health, wellbeing and learning during this pandemic.”
“I am also working with universities and professional bodies to ensure students can graduate as planned.”
International students will also be eligible for the funding.
The government asks all providers of student accommodation including universities, to make sure their rental policies have students’ best interests at heart and are communicated clearly.
The funding will be distributed by the Office for Students directly to universities, which are best placed to assess student hardship locally.
Students facing financial hardship are encouraged to contact their university or higher education provider if they find themselves facing financial difficulties related to Covid-19.
