The Parent Student

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.

Childcare Grant

You will be entitled to a childcare grant to help with nursery or other costs if you have dependant children and come from a low-income household. Your dependant(s) must be enrolled in approved or registered childcare and the grant will pay 85% of the cost of this care – up to a maximum weekly grant [...]

Special Support Grant

The Parent Student may be a priority candidate for a Special Support Grant rather than a Maintenance Grant. The Special Support Grant is payable in addition to the Student Loan rather than instead of it. The grant is also not counted as income when calculating income-related benefits or tax credits. Single parents or Parent Students with [...]

Government Maintenance Grant

A government maintenance grant may be available to students from England in full-time higher education. Government grants are means tested, so if your household income is low you may be eligible for either the Maintenance Grant or the Special Support Grant. It is important to note that if your application for a Maintenance Grant is [...]

University grants

Universities in the UK are now offering grants to students from lower income families. If you apply for and receive the maximum Maintenance Grant OR Special Support Grant as well as paying full tuition fees of £3,145, you will be eligible for an additional bursary from your university of at least £310. A comprehensive list [...]