Access to Learning Fund (ALF)

The Access to Learning Fund provides additional financial help towards the essential costs associated with being a student. Awards made from the Fund are usually non-repayable grants. The Access to Learning Fund cannot help with the payment of tuition fees, with the exception of some targeted help for part-time under-graduate study. The Fund has a financial limit which is set by the Government and this means that we can only make a contribution towards any assessed 'additional need' that you might have.

Who is eligible to apply?

The Fund can be used to help 'home' * students enrolled on a full-time or part-time higher education course (including distance learners) at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. Part-time students must be studying at least 50% of a full-time course, (25% for disabled students unable to study 50% because of their disability).

Intercalating Students who have temporarily withdrawn from their studies with the intention of returning after time out are also able to apply. Applicants must have applied for all other available means of financial support including having taken their full Government Student Loan entitlement before applying to the Fund. There is limited support for continuing students whose circumstances do not allow them to work during the summer and they can apply for 'Summer Assistance'. This includes students with no alternative means of support such as those with children or with a disability where benefits are not available and those re-sitting elements of their course. We are also able to help those students receiving Income Support over the summer where this stops at the beginning of September. Depending on the ALF budget, this category may be funded by the University.

*For Access to Learning Fund purposes 'Home' student will usually mean a student who meets the residence requirements for living cost support in the regulations pertaining to student support.

How will my Application be assessed?

ALF awards for full-time students are calculated using a formula that compares income with essential expenditure, set by the Government. By deducting assessed expenditure from total income any 'additional need' is identified and a contribution is then made towards this. Within the calculation there are certain allowances which result in priority being given to certain groups including:

Students with children (especially lone parents)
Other mature students (especially those with existing financial commitments, including priority debts) *
Students from low-income families
Disabled students (especially where DSA is unable to meet particular costs)
Care leavers and students from Foyers or those who are homeless (see other support) #
Students receiving the final year (reduced) Government Student Loan rate

*For students with debts it is expected that you seek advice to re-negotiate the payment levels. If a student already has a payment plan then these amounts can be added into a standard assessment. Students will be offered a choice of where they can seek advice either within the university or to an external agency.

# There is a Bursary to help with accommodation costs for students in these categories from Leeds Met rather than ALF. Please contact the team for more information.

For 2011/12 we have a budget of £454,161 this means that we could pay 30% of any ‘additional need’ at the beginning of the year. Due to the remaining budget this was reduced to 20% on 1st April, 2012. No payment will be made for awards under £100.

The maximum award from all schemes within ALF is £3,500 but this is likely to be the exception, and no payment will be made for awards under £100. There is a limit of £1,500 for non-standard awards, this includes emergencies.

For further information please see the link below for the Access to Learning Fund Booklet.

CLOSING DATES:

20th April, 2012 Final Year Students applying for Dyslexia Assessments
25th May, 2012 at 4pm Access to Learning Fund (ALF), Additional Fee Support Scheme (AFSS) & Dyslexia Assessment – Any Year
13th July, 2012 Summer Assistance (June-August)
21st September, 2012 Summer Assistance (September where income support stops)

Who to contact, where we are & our opening hours

Contacts/Location

Financial Support
Rose Bowl,
Room No. 148,
Portland Crescent,
Leeds,
LS1 3HB
Telephone: 0113 812 6701
Email: sfss@leedsmet.ac.uk

Opening Hours:

Monday to Thursday – 09.00 – 16.00
Friday 09.00 – 15.45

All enquiries should be made at the Helpzones in the first instance

Documentation & Forms you'll need

Forms

Available from the Helpzones from 26th September, 2011 or from the link below:

Access To Learning Fund Application Form 2011/12

Appeal Procedure

Documentation

Applications to the Fund must be submitted along with all of the appropriate supporting documents required in your particular circumstances. A schedule of possible items and guidance on what might be applicable to you is given at the end of the application form. Please note that we are unable to carry out our assessment without all of the supporting documents required for your circumstances.

We do not require the original documents so if you are likely to need these at a later date then please provide a photocopy because we are unable to return your supporting evidence for audit purposes.

In addition to the information listed, there could be circumstances where we ask for additional information. For example, if it looks as though we may be able to provide additional help with travel costs in instances such as journeys to your parental home to care for a relative who is ill, we may ask for medical evidence relating to the illness.