The Placements Hardship Fund is a grant designed to support recent graduates who are concerned about their ability to undertake work experience due to financial constraints.
The Placements Hardship Fund is now supporting students who will graduate in 2023.
This means-tested hardship grant is to be used for travel or accommodation expenses, IT equipment, work wear or any other expenses which may be necessary for you to be able to undertake an internship or placement activity.
If you are struggling financially and have secured an internship or placement in 2023/24, please read the information about eligibility and how to apply for a grant of a maximum of £500 below.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
Grants under the Placements Hardship Fund are available to Royal Holloway UG and PGT UK students graduating in 2023 only and are subject to a financial cap of £500 per student.
- You must have secured an internship or placement taking place in 2023/24 and provide evidence in the form of a signed internship agreement or employment contract.
- Applications cannot be made retrospectively.
- Household income must be below £40,000 or your ability to take up the internship/placement must be prevented because of financial constraints.
- You must write a testimonial about how you have used the grant and the difference it has made to your internship/placement experience. The university can use this testimonial for promotional purposes and to support future fundraising activities.
- You may be asked to provide receipts/evidence in relation to your use of the grant
- If your internship/placement is cancelled by you or the provider, you must inform us and the grant may be repayable on that basis.
- By applying you agree for the university finance department to check your household income based on your Student Finance information. If you were not entitled to Student Finance, alternative information will be requested to prove you meet the income criteria.
- You understand that this fund is limited to a certain amount available to all students who meet the criteria and is allocated on a first come first served basis and that an application does not guarantee a grant award.
- You may be asked to provide evidence of your bank account (a bank statement with your account name, sort code and account number) if you cannot access Campus Connect and are awarded from the fund. You will only be asked for this information if you are due to receive a grant and it is not needed at the application stage.
- Applications for the fund will not be accepted after the deadline of 2 July 2023 11.59 pm, or once all funding has been allocated if before that date.
How can I Apply?
You will need to complete an Application Form and return it together with supporting documents to the Careers Placements Team via careersplacements@royalholloway.ac.uk.
Please be aware, if you are awarded a grant, payments may take 2-4 weeks to process in busy periods. Please ensure you apply as soon as possible once you have secured your placement/internship.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about the Placements Hardship Fund you can contact the Placement team at careersplacements@royalholloway.ac.uk.
For questions about the wider careers support available to you contact careers@royalholloway.ac.uk.
