Financial hardship grants
Talk to a Student Support Advisor to discuss your changed financial circumstances and eligibility for financial support.
Eligibility
You may be eligible to apply for financial support if you:
- Are experiencing financial hardship due to circumstances outside your control,
- Are currently enrolled at UNSW,
- Are currently residing in Australia,
- Have completed at least one term of study at UNSW,
- Have no other means of financial support (e.g. savings, family, loan, payment plan), and
- Can provide documented evidence of financial hardship.
What kind of financial support is available?
Financial Hardship Grants are available to eligible students experiencing unforeseen financial hardship to assist with expenses such as the following (but are not limited to):
- Essential living costs (rent, groceries, utility bills, public transport)
- Study expenses (not tuition fees)
- Medical expenses
- Laptops and technology
- Rental bonds.
See also
- Step 1
- Step 2
- Step 3
Meet with a Student Support Advisor
Meet with a Student Support Advisor to discuss your current financial situation. If you are assessed as eligible for a financial hardship grant based on the information you provide, the Advisor will email you an online application link.
Before booking your appointment, please read through steps 2 and 3 carefully.
Provide a personal statement
In your application, you will need to demonstrate how you are experiencing financial hardship due to circumstances beyond your control and cannot meet your daily needs.
You must include a personal statement in which you:
- Clearly outline your financial difficulties
- Explain any unclear activity in your bank statement
- Explain any money you have received into your account that may not be clear in your bank statements (such as payments from family).
If your bank account balance indicates that there is not currently financial hardship, you must clearly outline why you are seeking a financial hardship grant and provide documented evidence as to why you are unable to use available funds.
Supply bank statements & supporting documents
You must provide the following supporting documents in your application:
- Bank account transaction history for the past 90 days of all bank accounts in your name. This includes everyday accounts, saving accounts, investment accounts, offshore accounts, credit card accounts and loan accounts.
- Proof of income (employment, family contribution, scholarship, sponsorship, other)
- Evidence of expenses unable to be met (rental agreement, bond, bills, invoices and quotes).
- A completed budget summary including all weekly income and expenses. This will be provided to you by the Student Support Advisor.
Your transaction history is a record of all transactions in a given period. This must be submitted in PDF form and include:
- The bank logo
- Your full name
- A list of all transactions in the past 90 days
- A running balance.
Financial counselling at Arc UNSW
Managing finances as a university student can be overwhelming. A financial counsellor can help you navigate the complexities of budgeting, managing debt and planning for the future.
Whether you're struggling with student loans, want advice on how to save, or need help understanding your financial options, a financial counsellor offers expert, non-judgmental support tailored to your needs.
Arc@UNSW Financial Counselling is a free service for Arc members.
We're here to help
Student Support offers an individual, holistic, student-centred experience to enhance academic and personal wellbeing. We support students with matters relating to study / life habits and skills, university procedures, financial hardship, accommodation-related concerns, and we can link you into other services.