Student Funding: COVID Extensions, COVID Assistance and Hardship

If you are experiencing unforeseen financial difficulties, whether COVID-related or not, there are a number of funds available within the University and Nuffield College to which you can apply for assistance.

We advise you to carefully read the information on this page to understand the most appropriate route for you, given your individual circumstances.

If you have further questions after carefully considering the information provided, you are welcome to contact Sarah Milne Das in the Academic Office for advice.

Oxford University COVID-19 Scholarship Extensions

Postgraduate research students funded by Oxford scholarships, or by studentships co-funded with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research councils and the Wellcome Trust, may be eligible to apply for scholarship extension funding.

The latest information about COVID-19 scholarship extensions can be found on the University website.

Nuffield COVID-19 Studentship Extensions (HT and TT 2022)

This Nuffield scheme was designed for students who are currently being funded by an Oxford scholarship, but who are not captured by the CSEF eligibility criteria. At the time of the scheme's launch, this included students who started their research degree in October 2020 and whose funding is due to end at the end of the 2021/22 academic year; however, it has now been confirmed that such students may apply to the sixth round of the CSEF.

If you are one of these students, you may apply to both the university CSEF scheme and the Nuffield COVID-19 Studentship Extensions scheme. We ask that in your application for each scheme, you note that you are also applying for the other. (If you need to update your Nuffield application with this information, you can do so by emailing sarah.milnedas@nuffield.ox.ac.uk). The Nuffield scheme is independent from the CSEF (ie it is administered entirely by the College), but if you do receive some form of support from the University CSEF, we need to take this into account when making an award (and vice versa). Note that Nuffield will often be asked to contribute to CSEF awards if it is a co-funder of the scholarship. You will not be disadvantaged by applying to both schemes.

To confirm your eligibility and apply for a Nuffield COVID-19 Studentship Extension, please first read the guidance notes.

Applications can then be made online via this form.

The application deadline is 6 May 2022.

COVID-19 Assistance Fund

The University COVID-19 Assistance Fund (CAF) supports students whose finances have been affected by the pandemic. The scheme is university-wide, but is administered by Colleges.

The CAF provides grants of up to £5,000 to students who are facing exceptional and unexpected financial need which has led to a shortfall in their finances that they are unable to meet through other sources.

Information about eligibility and how to apply can be found in the application form and guidance notes (please ensure you consult these notes when completing your application). The application deadline is 6 May 2022.

Oxford Hardship Fund

If you are experiencing financial difficulties unrelated to COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply to the Oxford Hardship Fund (OHF). Detailed eligibility criteria for who may apply, and what support is available, can be found on the University website.

If you plan to apply to the OHF, please contact Sarah Milne Das or the Senior Tutor for an initial discussion.

Nuffield College Hardship Funding

If you are experiencing financial difficulties unrelated to COVID-19, you may be eligible to apply to the Nuffield College Hardship Fund. Please contact the Senior Tutor for an initial discussion about your individual circumstances.

If you make an application to the OHF, Nuffield may also consider a grant from the Nuffield College Hardship Fund. The panel will make a decision based on the information provided in the OHF application form; you are not required to make a separate application.