Accessibility statement

Postgraduate Research Writing-up+ Support Fund

The Postgraduate Research Writing-up+ Support Fund has been created in response to the coronavirus pandemic and is available for postgraduate researchers who:

  • are currently in their writing-up period;
  • have been granted an extension to their studies;
  • will enter their writing-up or an extension period within the next six weeks.

This fund has been made possible thanks to the exceptional generosity of the Wolfson Foundation and other private donors who share the University of York's commitment to supporting Postgraduate Researchers during this exceptionally challenging time.

This funding is currently available until Monday 31 May 2021.

If you are experiencing urgent financial hardship, please speak to a Student Adviser at the Student Hub as soon as possible. Assistance from the Postgraduate Research Writing-up+ Support Fund is designed with longer-term funding in mind.

It can take up to four weeks for an assessment to be completed from when we receive your application and supporting evidence.

Who can apply?

You're eligible to apply if you:

  • are a postgraduate researcher who is currently in your writing-up period or who has been granted an extension to your studies, or you are due to enter your writing-up or an extension period within the next six weeks;
  • have exhausted the maximum funding you were entitled to receive; and
  • are normally resident within the UK for the duration of your studies.

You will need to show that you have made reasonable provision for your tuition fees and living costs throughout your course before you started your studies.

You are welcome to apply as many times to the Fund as you require, providing you can provide new evidence to document that your circumstances have changed since your last application, or until you have reached the maximum possible award.

How do I apply?

The application form will take approx. 30 minutes. Please read through this PDF version of the PGR Writing-up+ Support Fund Application Form 2020/21 (PDF , 462kb) before you begin your application, as you won’t be able to save and come back once you’ve started. Please ensure that you have all the required information before beginning.

  1. Complete the online application form, including the required supporting evidence. There are scanners, printers and photocopiers on campus.
  2. We will carry out the initial assessment of your application usually within four weeks of receiving the application and all required evidence.
  3. We will let you know the result of your application and keep you informed via your university email address.

What supporting evidence do I need to provide?

You will be asked to upload the following as part of the form process:

  1. Bank/Building Society Statements for every account in your name, including savings, overseas, and empty/unused accounts for the past three months.
  2. An explanation of all payments and all transfers out of your accounts of £100 or more, and all incomings, no matter how small. We need to know who the payment was from/to and what it was for. This can be included directly on your statements or as a separate document.
  3. Confirmation or award letters of all funding you receive, eg your Student Finance award letter.
  4. Evidence of your monthly outgoings, including rent/mortgage, eg tenancy agreement.

Depending on your financial circumstances, you may also be required to provide further evidence. The full list of required evidence is provided in our Guidance Notes for Hardship Funds (PDF , 162kb).

If you have a partner who lives with you, we require you to submit supporting documentation relating to them. We realise you may feel uncomfortable providing this information. If you require support, please make an appointment to discuss your personal circumstances with one of our trained student advisers.

We realise that some of the documents we ask for appear a little intrusive, but they are needed to make an accurate assessment of your situation and we will not be able to process your application without this information. We will treat all applications in confidence.

If you’re struggling to compile the evidence or need to submit hard copies, please email sfsu@york.ac.uk.

Will I have to pay the money back?

You may be offered a non-repayable grant, an interest-free loan, or a combination of the two. It depends on your financial situation. If you are offered an award as a loan, this will be confirmed within your outcome letter.