Students should connect directly with the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office to assess all available funding options. You can connect with their office by email at finaid@ucsd.edu or by phone (858-534-4480), or during their daily Virtual Counseling Hours via Zoom which is notably the quickest way to get a response!
If all financial aid options have been exhausted, students should fill out the Basic Needs Assistance Form, which will then be assessed to provide individual resource suggestions and options to meet with supportive staff for a 1:1 Consultation.
In the case that the student shares extreme financial need during the 1:1 Consultation, the staff member will inform the student that they may be eligible for a Basic Needs Emergency Grant after their case is assessed by the Financial Crisis Response Team. Similar to other emergency services, this award money is not promised and award determination is conducted through a needs-based assessment. Additionally, there is an eligibility factor requiring students to have accepted the minimum amount of Subsidized Loans. If approved for the Basic Needs Emergency Grant, this award money is intended for covering the costs of basic necessities.
Limited emergency loan funds are administered by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and are offered in small amounts to help students in critical short-term emergencies.
Short-term emergency loans:
Range in amounts from $500 - $1000
Can be borrowed once per quarter
Usually must be repaid within 30 days with a documented source of repayment
Are subject to a $20 service charge per emergency loan
Cannot be used to pay registration and tuition fees
To be eligible for a short-term emergency loan, students must have:
Enrolled in at least 6 units
Fully paid registration fees prior to applying for the loan
A clear UCSD billing account with no account holds
To apply, students must visit the financial aid office and fill out an application.
Students may also request consideration of additional or higher expenses not included in the standard Cost of Attendance which could result in an increase to their financial aid packages. To apply, students must be currently registered. If approved, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office may be able to adjust cost of attendance, expected family contribution, and financial aid awarded.
Budget add-ons may be requested for:
Books, supplies, and tutorial expenses
Child care expenses
Computer hardware, software, and equipment
Medical, dental, and optical insurance
Rent and utilities
Specialized services, books, supplies, and equipment for UCSD classes
Transportation
Budget add-ons are crucial for students who have unexpected expenses or whose circumstances have changed since filling out their FAFSA/California Dream Act (i.e. becoming independent or homeless). If you know that a person's circumstances have changed, recommend that they appeal their budget for more financial aid.
To learn more about the budget add-on process/forms, click HERE.