The Parent Student

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The Parent Student has landed on planet Twitter! Come and tweet with us and network with other parent students…

Textbooks

Firstly, the textbooks you need should be available from the library at your institution. You’ll find multiple copies of core texts for the units you study, but there may be fewer copies of more specific or specialised books. It always pays to get a head-start on assignments, that way you can make sure you borrow [...]

Research Councils

Research councils use government funds to sponsor promising postgraduate students. Competition for funding is usually fierce and less than a quarter of applicants are generally successful. The application process usually takes several months and may involve extensive references from past tutors, a personal statement and research proposal, and endorsement from the institution at which you [...]

Forum

  The Parent Student FORUM is now officially open. Click here to join the Parent Student community, we look forward to hearing your questions, winges, gripes and triumphs…

Postgraduate scholarships

  Scholarships are usually awarded on academic merit and are intended to give promising students access to higher education. However, a wide array of bodies offer scholarships – from government groups to independent organisations or memorial funds – and each set their own conditions which may incorporate the financial need, country of origin, gender, race or [...]

Distance MBAs combine Russell Group learning with flexibility

This story in the Indy looks at the leading sector in postgraduate distance learning: the business teaching sector. More choice appears to be offered in postgraduate business qualifications than in any other subject, with distance MBAs offered by Russell Group institutions such as Liverpool, Durham and Warwick. The Independent profiles Parent Students who have completed such [...]

Parents’ Learning Allowance

You may be eligible for a Parents’ Learning Allowance to help with living expenses while you study.  This allowance is a non-repayable grant available to Parent Students with low household incomes –  for the current academic year the maximum grant is £1,470. Consult the directgov website for more information.

Career Development Loans

Career Development Loans are bank loans with a slight twist – you don’t have to start paying them back immediately. You may be able to borrow £300 to £8,000 to pay for a course lasting up to two years, or three years if it includes a year of approved work experience, and your repayments won’t [...]

Adult Dependants’ Grant

You may be eligible for an Adult Dependants Grant if you have an adult who depends on you financially for support. The adult you support must not be your son or daughter but may be your partner (including same sex partners) or another adult. The Adult Dependants’ Grant is worth up to £2,575 per year [...]

Financial help for undergraduate parent students

Parents who decide to embark on a higher education course may be eligible for various grants, bursaries and loans according to their number of dependants and household income. You can download a pdf document from the directgov website which describes these in detail. Below is an overview of the help available: