The Access to Learning Fund is available to UK 'Home' fee paying students. You can make one application for support in each academic year as long as you are registered and you meet the eligibility criteria set out for the main Access to Learning Fund, given on the Information Sheet.  

Overseas and EU (other than UK) students are not eligible to apply.        

The amount of any grant made depends on the students individual circumstances. It is assessed using a financial shortfall calculator (FSC) from the information provided by the student. If there is a shortfall students will be awarded a grant.        

For information on the application process visit the Kent Union Access to Learning Fund page.

For any further queries, please contact Financial Aid via financialaid@kent.ac.uk

Once you have been in contact with the Advice Centre they will provide you with guidance on the application process, including the application form and supporting evidence you will need to provide. All evidence provided must show your name. Currently the application process is online.

Once the student adviser has received the completed application form with all supporting documents, they will submit it to the Financial Aid Office.

Students must apply through the Kent Union and cannot submit their application or supporting evidence to the Financial Aid Office.

This is a limited fund and applicants are means tested, so there can be no guarantee that you will receive a payment. 

Students will need to have been income assessed by the Student Loans Company (SFE/SFNI/SFW/SAAS) before making an application.

Students should be aware that ALF is intended to act as a safety net for those in financial difficulty, rather than a main source of income. 

The Fund cannot be used to meet the cost of tuition fees for any undergraduate or post-graduate student.

Applicants are advised that payments from the Access to Learning Fund may have implications for their entitlement to means-tested state benefits. Students who receive help from the Fund can be supplied with a letter to present to their local JobCentre Plus / Housing Benefit office to help their claim for benefits if necessary.     

Once the completed application form and all the relevant evidence has been submitted to the student adviser, the application will be submitted to Student Services. An assessment and decision will normally be made within 20 working days of Student Services receiving your completed application and any additional information required has been received. If your application is successful, you can usually expect to receive a payment within this time period. If for any reason we need to defer your initial payment beyond this 20 working day period we will let you know. 

Awards will be paid by BACS into an account nominated by the student.

Students who are unsuccessful in their application may appeal against the decision. However, appeals against amounts awarded will not be considered.

Appeals should only be made if there is no change of circumstances to the original application. If you have experienced a change of circumstances since your original application, please contact a student adviser to discuss submitting a new application based on this change.

See the information sheet for further information about how to appeal.