Hardship funding demand continues as cost of living worsens

The PIE News 13 January 2023

At least seven British universities paid out more than £100,000 (US$121,800) in hardship funding to international students during the 2021-22 academic year, with one dishing out almost £1 million to struggling students. But some are now rolling back support despite the cost-of-living crisis, writes Helen Packer for The PIE News.

Some English universities spent three-figure sums on supporting non-UK students facing financial difficulties in 2020-21, including Leeds (£145,630), Brunel (£155,377) and Durham (£100,611). The University of Exeter spent £968,367 on hardship funding for international students, almost double the amount it had paid out the previous year (£534,598). The university received over 1,600 requests for support from non-domestic students, the majority of which were granted.

The PIE collected these figures from a sample of universities across the UK via freedom of information requests. The results show uneven approaches to providing financial help to non-UK students, despite guidance from Universities UK International advising institutions to ensure all international students are eligible for some form of hardship support.
Full report on The PIE News site

Receive email updates from UWN

Global newsletters    Africa newsletters    Other
    (other includes related events and webinars)

Data will be processed according to our standard terms & conditions.

Research focuses on production of jet fuel from halophytes

UAE University staff

With an eye to developing a clean, alternative aviation fuel to reduce carbon emissions, researchers at the United Arab Emirates University have been focusing on the production of jet fuel from sustainable resources such as halophytes, which are salt-tolerant plants that could be cultivated on a wider scale in the region’s coastal areas.

The value of being human: How teachers can work alongside AI

Michael Milligan

Artificial intelligence is now a part of our evolution in technology and teachers need to be encouraged to find ways to bring AI into the classroom and have students use it in a way that is beneficial to them in the long term.

Ground-breaking research on seawater biodesalination

UAE University staff

As water scarcity reaches critical levels globally, a research team at the United Arab Emirates University seeks to revolutionise seawater desalination practices, offering a path to mitigate water scarcity while championing environmental preservation.