We understand that students can be particularly vulnerable to changing circumstances and unexpected life events.
We have extended our offer of hardship support to undergraduate chemistry students. You don't have to be a Royal Society of Chemistry member to apply for one of these grants but to be eligible you need to be:
- Studying chemistry as an undergraduate on an RSC-accredited course in the UK or Ireland (please check your course).
- Experiencing unexpected hardship or an extenuating change in circumstances, resulting in financial difficulties, since the formal acceptance of your university place. An increase in the cost of living on its own does not meet our Undergraduate Student Hardship Grant criteria.
Please contact us so we can assess if you are eligible. When completing the contact form please include as much information as possible about how your circumstances have changed, or the unexpected hardship you’ve experienced, since accepting the course. Once we receive your form, we will be in touch to let you know if you are able to apply for support.
If you are invited to apply, we cannot guarantee that your application will be successful, but our caseworkers will signpost you to other sources of support.
Additional wellbeing support
Wellbeing and listening service
If you need further wellbeing support or someone to talk to, we can provide you with additional support. As a chemical scientist based in the UK or Ireland you can call our wellbeing and listening service on 0800 084 3451 (UK Freephone) or +44 1223 853549 (International). The phone line is available from 8am to 8pm (UK time) Monday – Friday and all calls are confidential.
Our services are completely confidential.
Support for new graduates
It’s rare for someone to immediately find a job in their specialist field after graduating, and many people find themselves searching for longer than they hoped. Breathing space grants give you the time you need to find the role your skills deserve. Contact us for further information.
Chemists’ Community Fund
The Chemists’ Community Fund provides members of the Royal Society of Chemistry and their family with confidential support around their wellbeing, finances, legal advice and careers.
Royal Society of Chemistry membership
If you are an RSC member, please contact us directly as we may be able to offer you an enhanced support package.
If you are not currently a Royal Society of Chemistry member, student membership costs are now waived for all undergraduate students in the UK and Ireland and at all RSC-accredited institutions. Find out more about becoming a student member here.
