External Financial Support
This page lists help from outside St Mary’s and SMSU: government funding, free money and debt advice, local services in Richmond borough, and grants from charities. We understand that students can face financial challenges at any point in their studies.
These organisations are not run by St Mary’s University or SMSU, so please read how each one works and check you are eligible before you apply.
Looking for help from the University or the Students’ Union? See Internal support, or go back to Financial Support.
Student Finance and benefits
Student Finance England is the main source of government funding for students in England. If you have not applied yet, or your circumstances have changed, check what you can get.
Student Finance England (GOV.UK)
- What you can get
- A Tuition Fee Loan, paid straight to the University, and a Maintenance Loan for living costs such as rent, food, books and travel. Both are repaid only after you have left your course and earn over a certain amount.
- Extra help
- You may get extra money that usually does not have to be repaid if you are estranged from your parents, need to pay for childcare, are a full-time student with children, have an adult who depends on you financially, or have a disability, mental or physical health problem or learning difficulty such as dyslexia. Disabled Students’ Allowance does not depend on household income and does not have to be repaid.
- Contact
- 0300 100 0607, or webchat in your online account (Monday to Friday, 8am to 7pm, when an adviser is available).
Student Finance on GOV.UK Disabled Students’ Allowance Applying for Student Finance (University)
Postgraduate funding
- Helps with
- Master’s loans, postgraduate funding databases and teacher training bursaries.
GOV.UK Master’s Loan Prospects: funding postgraduate study Get Into Teaching: funding University postgraduate funding
Benefits and Council Tax
- Universal Credit
- You usually cannot get Universal Credit if you study full-time, but there are exceptions, for example if you are responsible for a child, live with an eligible partner, or are disabled and receive a qualifying disability benefit. Maintenance loans count as income.
- Council Tax
- Households where everyone is a full-time student do not pay Council Tax. Request your exemption letter through the University’s E-Vision portal. If you live in University halls you do not need one.
- Check what you can claim
- Turn2us has a free benefits calculator, and GOV.UK has a tool to check which benefits and financial support you may be able to get.
Universal Credit and students Council Tax and students Exemption letters (University) Check benefits and support
Free money and debt advice
If you are behind on payments, owe money or are worried about debt, these services are free, confidential and independent. You never need to pay for debt advice.
Free, impartial money guidance backed by the government.
A debt charity offering free debt advice and a debt advice tool you can use at any time.
Free, confidential debt advice by phone and webchat, plus an online tool for tailored advice.
Advice on money, debt, benefits and housing for anyone who lives, works or studies in the borough of Richmond upon Thames.
Free, independent legal advice on debt and benefits, including appeals.
A national charity with a free benefits calculator and a grants search for charitable help.
Local help in Richmond borough
If you live or study in Twickenham and the surrounding area, these local services may be able to help with food and emergency costs.
Three days of emergency food from the Trussell network. You need a voucher first, and the food bank can explain how to get one. There are sites across the borough, including Whitton and Teddington.
Free and low-cost community food
Food for Thought Heathfield (surplus food and ready meals, open to anyone), The Real Junk Food Project at the ETNA Community Centre (pay as you feel) and community suppers at Linden Hall, Hampton.
Richmond Council funding for low-income residents facing unexpected financial pressures. It is applied for through Citizens Advice Richmond. Ask them whether you qualify as a student.
Grants and charities
These funds are not run by St Mary’s or SMSU, so please read how each one works and check you are eligible before you apply.
Search for charitable grants you may be able to apply for, based on your circumstances.
A database of scholarships, grants and bursaries for UK students.
Grants towards fuel bills and essential household items for low-income residents of Hampton, Hampton Hill, Hampton Wick, Teddington, Twickenham, Heathfield and Whitton.
Grants mainly for people training to be teachers, with priority for Religious Education. Grants are not usually awarded for the first year of a course.
Funding for Scottish students in higher education.
Scholarships for international students studying in the UK, depending on your country and course.
Questions
I am an international student. What help is there?
Can I get help if I have children or care for someone?
Yes. Student Finance England has extra help for full-time students with children, for childcare costs and for adults who depend on you financially. Students with dependants are a priority group for the Hardship Fund, and the University has support for young adult carers.
Student Finance on GOV.UK · Young adult carers at St Mary’s
I have a disability or health condition. Is there extra funding?
Disabled Students’ Allowance helps with extra study costs for students with a disability, mental health condition, long-term illness or learning difficulty. It does not depend on household income and does not have to be repaid. Disabled students are also a priority group for the Hardship Fund. The University’s Wellbeing Service can advise on disability support.
Disabled Students’ Allowance · Wellbeing support
I am estranged from my family or I am care-experienced.
If you are under 25, have no contact with your parents and support yourself, you may be able to get extra help from Student Finance England. St Mary’s also gives priority for the Hardship Fund to care-experienced and estranged students, and offers the St Mary’s Cares Bursary and a named contact in the Student Funding Service.
St Mary’s Cares
The services on this page other than SMSU and the University are independent organisations. Contact details and opening times were checked on 17 October 2026 and may change. If any detail is wrong, please tell us at smsu@stmarys.ac.uk.
