Student Hardship Fund

The University of Luxembourg Hardship Fund provides assistance to Bachelor, Master and PhD students in financial difficulties, and particularly to those suffering unexpected hardship. The Hardship fund is intended to act as a safety net for those in financial difficulty; in any case it is not a main source of income nor a grant or a scholarship.

Eligibility

To qualify for an award from the Hardship Fund of the University of Luxembourg, you must meet certain conditions. The allocation of this financial support is based on the unique personal and social situation of the applicant. These conditions are as follows:

• be enrolled in a Bachelor or Master programme at the University of Luxembourg or
• be registered as a self-funded doctoral student at the University of Luxembourg and
• be registered in the 3^rd semester of your study programme or above and
• not qualify for other financial aid and
• be in immediate and unexpected need of help for financial hardship

All students are expected to have made adequate and realistic financial provision to cover core living costs i.e. rent, food and utility bills before starting their study programme. Where adequate financial provision has not been made and you have started your study programme with insufficient funds to cover your basic living costs, it is unlikely you will qualify for an award from the Hardship Fund.

Other help you should seek before applying to the Hardship Fund

Luxembourg students should have applied to MengStudien for all grants and loans for which they may be eligible, before submitting an application to the Hardship Fund.

EU students should have applied for any student grants and loans that are available in home country.

Overseas students have to supply proof of funding before arriving in Luxembourg and should ask their guarantors to honour this plan before submitting an application to the Hardship Fund. The Hardship Fund will not be prepared to assist you unless there has been some unexpected change of circumstances since you submitted your proof of funding.

How to apply?

Applications can be made by sending a completed application form and necessary documents to hardshipfund@uni.lu.You must give as much information as possible ensuring all details are accurate. All information will be treated confidentially.

Awards are made from the Hardship Fund once each semester. There is one application deadline in the middle of each semester:

• winter semester 2021/22 – 15 November 2021
• summer semester 2021/22 – 16 May 2022

You should apply well in advance by submitting an application form and necessary documents as late applications cannot be considered until the following term.

You will normally be informed of the outcome of your application within 4 weeks of the application deadline.

• Download the Hardship Fund application form (English version)
• Télécharger le formulaire de demande Hardship Fund (version francaise)
• Antragsformular Hardship Fund (deutsche Version) herunterladen

Contact: HardshipFund@uni.lu

What if I disagree with the outcome of my application?

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be sent an explanatory email. You can consult with the Inclusion Office about the reasons. If you wish you appeal the decision you should do so in writing within 4 weeks of receiving the decision. You can appeal on the following grounds:

• the procedures for the allocation of the hardship fund were not followed
• you feel the evidence submitted was not considered by the panel
• you feel your financial hardship is greater than the panel determined

You can submit your appeal in writing by email indicating the grounds on which your appeal  and explaining why you are challenging the decision. Appeals should be addressed to the Head of SEVE: gregory.dubost@uni.lu

Your application with accompanying evidence will be retained for 5 years from the date it is submitted and then deleted in line with the University policy.

 

Food voucher scheme

Click here to receive more information on the Food voucher scheme, as well as about Foodsharing.

 

Student Access to Tech Scheme

Due to the change to online teaching and assessment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis, we can now offer assistance to students who do not have the means to acquire a laptop to access online study materials and classes. For support, please complete the application form and send it together with your supporting documents to HardshipFund@uni.lu.

This project has been made possible thanks to the generosity of Fondation André Losch and Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-Duchesse.

• Download Laptop Request Application Form (PDF)(English)

Contact: HardshipFund@uni.lu

 

State Support - MengStudien

MengStudien is a financial contribution by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research for students in higher or university education (amended act of 22 June 2000). To find out more about this financial support, please visit the website MengStudien.lu (please consult the eligibility criteria before applying).

If you already receive MengStudien and you need additional support during the Covid-19 situation, you can apply for an increase of financial assistance (max. 500 € for your scholarship and 500 € for your student loan). You will find more information about this exceptional help and the application process on their FAQ website (in French).

Contact: aide-fi@mesr.etat.lu

Moreover, tenants and landlords whose incomes have fallen substantially as a result of the current COVID-19 crisis can now apply for housing assistance (Guichet unique des aides au logement). More information can be found on the government website.

 

Single parent grant

The Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-Duchesse offers a grant for single parents who wish to pursue studies in Luxembourg or are currently pursuing studies in Luxembourg.

More information on the grant and its conditions can be found here: https://fondation-grand-ducale.lu/bourse-monoparentale/

Contact: info@fondation-grand-ducale.lu