For one reason or another, some students may find themselves struggling to make ends meet from time to time. In this situation, we and College would much prefer you to turn to us rather than getting yourself into trouble. There is a range of options available:

STUDENT SUPPORT FUND

This fund consists of income derived from the gifts of Old Members to support continuing academic excellence at Magdalen. The first priority of the Fund is to ensure that no member of the College is prevented by their financial circumstances from completing their course.

The Deans of Arts receive applications from undergraduate students on behalf of the Student Support Committee, who are ultimately responsible for making awards. The awards currently disbursed are in the range £1,000-£2,000, although in exceptional circumstances a larger award has been appropriate. From the academic year 2005-6 all undergraduates reading for their first degree only, will be eligible to apply to the Fund.

The best time to apply to the Fund is at the start of Michaelmas Term. There will only be opportunities to apply in subsequent Terms if funds remain unallocated then. When an award is made, funds are budgeted to support a student for the duration of their course, although they will need to reapply each year in order to demonstrate a continuing need for the money and an ongoing commitment to serious academic work. Unsuccessful applications from Michaelmas Term may still be considered in subsequent terms (should funds remain).

Informal queries can be made to the Deans’ Secretary during First and Second Weeks of each term.

ACCESS TO LEARNING FUND

The Access to Learning Fund provides discretionary financial assistance for students to help them access and remain in higher education, particularly those students who need financial help to meet extra costs that cannot be met from other sources of support. The Fund also helps to alleviate unexpected financial hardship. Students who may be considering leaving higher education because of financial problems are particularly encouraged to apply. You can apply to the Fund at any point during the academic year, including the long vacation. Students must fulfil the eligibility criteria that are provided on the application form, and any help received from the Fund is usually non-repayable. Application forms are available from the Deans’ Secretary, but the fund is administered by the Student Funding and International Office in the University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JD.

The University has further hardship support available allocated by the University’s Committee on Student Hardship (see below).

COLLEGE HARDSHIP FUNDS

For any junior member who is experiencing, or expects to face, financial hardship, assistance is available from the College Hardship Funds (administered by the Deans of Arts). These funds include both the Junior Members’ Fund and the Rent Relief Fund. Applications for assistance from both these sources are dealt with through the Deans’ Office.

The Junior Members’ Fund is designed to enable junior members to meet short-term unforeseen financial need and is less restrictive than the Access to Learning Fund. The Rent Relief Fund is designed to help cover the cost of residence in the vacation and during term-time that students incur during the course of their studies. Applications to the Deans can be made at any point during term-time and only in emergencies during the vacation. All applicants will be asked to fill out a form detailing their current financial situation so as to demonstrate financial need. Awards will normally be made within two weeks of the Deans’ receipt of the completed application during term time, though a longer decision time should be expected in the vacation. The precise amount given will vary with the extent of the student’s need. Individual awards are usually in the region of £100 to £600, but can be more. Application forms are available from the Deans’ Secretary.

COMMITTEE ON STUDENT HARDSHIP

The University’s Committee on Student Hardship provides financial aid to students who experience unforeseen and/or exceptional losses of expected income beyond their control. The Committee meets in Sixth Week of Michaelmas and Hilary Terms and Fourth Week of Trinity Term. All parts of the completed application form must reach the International Office, University Offices, Wellington Square by Monday of Fourth Week of Michaelmas and Hilary Terms and Friday of Second Week of Trinity Term. If you wish to apply for such a grant, you can collect a form from the Deans’ Secretary. However, as applications must receive the endorsement of the College, the Deans require completed forms to be returned to them at least one week before these deadlines.

OXFORD BURSARY

The Oxford Bursary is available to all British (‘home’) and EU undergraduates who have full fee remission from their tuition fees. The current scheme pays £1,000 in the first year, and £500 in each subsequent year of study. The application forms are available from the Deans’ Secretary and applicants should return them to her by Fifth Week of Michaelmas Term in order to be eligible for other funding opportunities (e.g. Opportunity Bursary, Malone Bursary, Citigroup Bursary, or IBM Bursary). These Bursaries are administered by the Student Funding and International Office. No applications will be accepted after 1 May.

THE ABBOTT FUND

Abbott’s Bursaries are awarded to members of the University who are:
(a) children (including orphan children) of the clergy of the Church of England;
(b) reading for (i) a first degree, or (ii) the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine or an equivalent degree, or (iii) a second Honour School of the University; and
(c) standing in need of financial assistance to enable them to obtain the full benefit of a university education.

As demand on this small fund is high, the Fund managers expect that applicants will have sought additional financial support from other sources, including the Student Loan Company and the Access to Learning Fund.

Applications for assistance should be made during Michaelmas Term. The forms are available from the Deans’ Secretary.

The Abbott Fund also sponsors a number of Enhanced Oxford Bursaries, an application form for which will be sent to all first-year students in receipt of an Oxford Bursary.

TRAVEL GRANTS

The Tutorial Board considers applications from Junior Members of the College for assistance towards the costs of travel abroad. The Trust Funds available are limited and the great majority of grants are for travel related to studies. Further details and an application form are available from the windowsill at the bottom of the Grammar Hall staircase. The form requires the signature of a member of the Tutorial Board, and the Board member must state whether or not the travel is related to studies. The maximum award to any one student during the course of their studies is £350.

VACATION STUDY GRANTS

Grants of £6.00 per day are available to those undergraduates who are, in principle, eligible for LEA/DfEE support (but not necessarily in receipt of any financial assistance) for essential academic work in Oxford during the vacation; grants are available for up to a maximum of 30 days per academic year from 1 August for final-year students; 15 days for those taking University examinations in the vacation or compulsory vacation courses; and 10 days for others. Those living out of College are eligible to apply. Application forms are available from the windowsill at the bottom of the Grammar Hall staircase. These require the signature of a member of the Tutorial Board.

UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FUND

This can be claimed on top of the Travel Grant and, again, it is £350 for "essential" research or £250 for "beneficial" research. The grants will be made to cover costs which are incurred as
a result of research direcly linked to the applicant's undergraduate course. You can see the full details by picking up an application from the window in the ground floor of the Grammar Hall.

For further information on any of these schemes please contact the Deans’ Secretary, Susan Burton.