Lancaster University Extends Support Of £5.6m

Lancaster University has pledged an additional £2.2 million to assist students facing financial difficulties this year, as a joint University and Students’ Union group leads its response to the student cost of living crisis.

The increase boosts the overall allocation of funds to help students in situations of financial hardship to £5.6 million during the 2022-23 academic year.

The additional funds will be used to double the Lancaster Opportunity and Access Fund (LOAF) for students facing financial difficulty in 2022-23 to £500,000, and to boost bursaries and stipends paid to students.

The way applications for LOAF support are assessed has also been changed to take into account rising living costs.

A joint University and Students’ Union working group is continuing to develop new support offers as it leads the University’s response to the increase in student living costs.

The group is working on plans to support students in areas such as travel expenses, food and drink on campus, and access to social events, as well as student wellbeing and minimising the effects on students’ academic progress.

The University’s nine colleges are also supporting their students in financial difficulty through measures such as loans, grants and food schemes.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Andy Schofield said: “Lancaster has a proud tradition of widening participation, opening our doors to students from all backgrounds. We know that the rise in the cost of living is making life very difficult for many students both across the UK and here at Lancaster.

“We have made an additional investment in financial support this year so we can offer immediate assistance to those who need it most.

“It is essential that our students’ experiences shape our support package as we move through this national cost of living crisis. With that in mind, we have also set up a group with our Students’ Union that will lead the University’s response now and in the longer term, so we can continue to act on behalf of our students as long as these challenges remain.”