£500 private rent contribution awarded to 600 students

03 Mar 2021

A message from Professor April McMahon, Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students

Dear colleagues, 

As part of the University’s ongoing support package to help students during the COVID crisis, the University is awarding a non-repayable rent contribution of £500 to 600 students. This is in addition to rent rebates we were able to provide to students in our own halls of residence.

The offer is being made to students who have been identified as having previously applied for financial support, or from the lowest income backgrounds who are not currently in receipt of a University award, and who are renting private accommodation. 

Through this contribution, we will be providing some financial support to help assist those students most affected financially, who are in private accommodation and haven’t benefited from the rent rebate we were able to provide to students in our own halls of residence. 

The money for this contribution comes from additional government funding that must be allocated by the end of March, and so we have worked as quickly as possible to deliver this support. Those students identified as being eligible will receive an email from us this week and have until Friday, 12 March to claim this. Once claimed, the rent contribution award will be sent to their bank accounts in late March.

This rent contribution is part of the extra £1.9 million we have committed in support funding for students this year. Any student who has not been identified for this specific award can still apply for support with accommodation costs through the Living Cost Support Fund. 

Unfortunately we can’t provide a rent contribution to all students in private accommodation, however, we and the Students’ Union are liaising with private providers to encourage them to consider rent reductions for those students who aren’t able to use their accommodation.

Professor April McMahon

Vice-President for Teaching, Learning and Students