RIBA Education Fund Information to applicants

Background and aims The aim of the RIBA Education Fund is to alleviate the financial hardship of architecture students, in order to widen participation in architectural education and in the profession. The Fund exists to aid committed students of architecture to continue their studies by making maintenance grants and one-off payments to students experiencing financial hardship during the course of study. What can it help with? If youre in hardship or need extra financial support, you can apply to the RIBA Education Fund. The Trustees will look at individual circumstances. Grants can be awarded, for example: For general living and course costs that are not already covered by other forms of financial help; For students who encounter exceptional costs, or unexpected financial hardship during the course of their architectural education because of situations such as illness, bereavement or changes in family circumstances; For specific, one-off costs, such as printing, books or course-related equipment or study trips. Eligibility and selection criteria The RIBA Education Fund is open to students studying an RIBA-validated Part 1 or Part 2 course in architecture in the UK. Applicants should have successfully completed the first year of an RIBAvalidated Part 1 course in the UK. The student must have been resident in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of their first course in architecture. Please also note the additional eligibility criteria: Students studying on courses with RIBA candidate status may also be considered. Students who have already obtained a degree in another subject are only considered on an exceptional basis (see FAQ note below). A student who is repeating part of the course will normally only be supported if there are medical reasons, or on compassionate grounds because of personal or domestic problems. An exception to the above residency criteria applies to applicants who have lived in the UK for a substantial part of their life but was not a resident three years prior to the start of their course because of being moved abroad by parents, guardians, or due to spouses employment. Applicants who are resident of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man may also be considered.

66 Portland Place London W1B 1AD UK Tel +44 (0)20 7580 5533 Fax +44 (0)20 7255 1541 info@inst.riba.org www.architecture.com Public Information line 0906 302 0400*
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Other sources of financial assistance The level of grants made by the RIBA Education Fund varies, but rarely exceeds 1,000. The funds are very limited, and they cannot substitute assistance provided by Student Finance or grants provided by Universities. Universities have hardship funds available to students, and you should apply to this in the first instance. Please indicate on your application form that you have investigated such sources of assistance, and declare the outcome of your application. How to apply Students will need to complete the application form (available to download from www.architecture.com/educationfund). The application form addresses your personal financial situation as well as your academic record and promise as a student of architecture. It is therefore important that: The financial information you provide is complete and accurate. You are required to submit your most recent bank statements to verify the information provided. If you are unmarried and under the age of 25, both your parents provide information relating to their income and sign this part of the form. If they prefer, they can provide this information direct to the RIBA in a sealed envelope. If you are married or co-habiting regardless of age, your spouse/partner is required to complete and sign this section. Your personal statement outlines, as concisely as possible, why you should be supported by the RIBA Education Fund. Please give any specific information you feel to be important to your case. Your tutors reference provides information of you as a student, your progress to date on the course and your potential, and acknowledges support for your application. Your tutor (or course leader) is also required to sign and confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, all the information you have provided is accurate. How are the funds allocated? Applications are considered by the Trustees of the Education Fund. The Trustees of the Fund assess all applications rigorously and in confidence. They will look at your individual circumstances. The following groups are priorities for support: If you are thinking of giving up your course because of financial problems and need extra support to help you keep studying. If this is the case, the Trustees would expect you to have discussed this with your tutor, or relevant staff member at your University, and acknowledged in your tutors reference. If you have experienced exceptional personal difficulties that have impacted on your financial situation If you are a final year student (of Part I and Part II), as the intention is to support students in their final stages of education in order to allow them to progress towards qualification. The level of grant varies depending on the individual circumstances and amount of funding available. Grants can vary between 100-1,500.

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How are payments made? All grant payments are made by cheque, and are either made as one-off payments or as maintenance grants paid in installments over a period of an academic year. Deadline Applications are assessed at fixed points throughout the academic year and should be received by 5pm on the following dates. Monday 5 September Monday 17 October Monday 28 November Monday 9 January Monday 20 February Monday 2 April Monday 7 May The Trustees endeavour to respond within three weeks of the deadlines. Please note that the funds are limited, and grants can only be made for as long as the funding remains. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply early in the academic year, as there will be fewer funds available for applications received towards the end of the academic year. Duration Applicants can only apply once during the academic year. All applicants (successful and unsuccessful) are able to reapply for funding in future academic years if their circumstances require it. General terms and conditions All applications are treated in confidence. The RIBA may contact successful applicants for fundraising and publicity purposes, but we will not pass your details on to a third party. More useful links: For information on loans, grants, trust funds, university bursaries and other avenues to explore visit: The Student Finance website www.directgov.org.uk Career Development Loans www.lifelonglearning.co.uk/cdl Universities and Colleges Admission Service http://www.ucas.com/students/studentfinance National Union of Students (NUS) www.nusonline.co.uk Architects Benevolent Society http://www.absnet.org.uk Universities can provide selective help at their discretion through Access to Learning Fund to students who have serious financial difficulties. Ask at your university Finance Office for more information or visit the Directgov website: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigher Education/StudentFinance/Extrahelp

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Some universities have their own University Hardship Funds to support students in financial difficulties. The finance office at your university will be able to help. Educational Grants Advisory Service: 501-505 Kingsland Road London E8 4AU. T +44 (0)20 7249 6636 www.family-action.org.uk Citizens Advice Bureau: Contact your local branch or see www.adviceguide.org.uk The British Council offers links to bursaries and scholarships connected to individual universities and nationalities of students www.britishcouncil.org.uk The website www.brightknowledge.org provides a range of information to students about education, finance, careers and student life. For other scholarships and bursaries offered by the RIBA visit the Education pages of the RIBA website www.architecture.com/EducationAndCareers

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Q: I am in the first year of my Part II and have only just returned to school after a period of work experience, therefore I havent had enough contact with my personal tutor for them to feel able to give a personal reference. Can I attach a reference from my most recent employer? A: Yes. The reference is to give the committee information on you as a student of architecture, which includes the professional experience. The reference should acknowledge their support for your application. However, in addition, you should also try to obtain a reference from your tutor in the final year of your Part 1 course. 2. Q: I dont receive bank statements through the post, how can I provide you with my bank statements without requesting these specifically from the bank? A: a statement showing the previous months transaction from your internet banking is fine. Please ensure that your name and account details are on the statement. 3. Q: Why do you require details of Parents income? What if they dont want to give this information?

A: If you have indicated parental support in section D of the application form, it is relevant to the Trustees assessment of your financial situation. If you are financially independent from your parents, or it is otherwise not relevant to your financial situation, you do not have to complete this section. If your parents do not want to reveal this information to you, they can send this information separately to the RIBA. 4. Q: Your eligibility criteria states that you support students studying architecture as a second degree on an exceptional basis. What do you find define as an exceptional basis? A: Trustees will consider this on a case to case basis. A typical example might be where a career change has been necessary due to health reasons. The funding available for grants is limited, and do not allow the Trustees to help all the students they would
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often like to. Therefore funding has to be prioritised to those pursuing architecture as a first degree. 5. Q: I am a part-time student, am I eligible? A: Yes both full-time and part-time students from RIBA-validated schools are eligible to apply for funding. As the assessment is usually based on the level of income and expenditure, you will need to demonstrate that your means are insufficient or that the hardship would be created for your family due to the financial impact of your education. 6. Q: Ive just missed the application deadline, but am in urgent need of funding will you still accept my application? A: The Trustees may be able to assess applications outside of the deadlines, if the situation requires it. Please make this clear on your application form, or contact a member of staff in the Education Department to discuss your application. Students are encouraged to apply early in the academic year to help them plan their finances carefully, but we will try to respond to unexpected situations if the students case requires it. Please allow for a maximum of three weeks for the Trustees to assess your application. If you have any further questions about the application process, contact Jo Scott in the RIBA Education Department: Joanna.scott@riba.org or 020 7307 6378

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