UCAS Students: Specific help

Specific financial help for students

Non-repayable financial support is awarded to students who have specific circumstances that may affect their time at university. Below are certain issues that are considered.

Information contained in this section is subject to change and help may vary according to where you live in the UK. You will need to contact your local authority to find out what you are entitled to.

Students with children or adult dependants

The Childcare Grant: this grant provides full-time students with help towards the costs of childcare. It provides up to 85% of childcare costs for one child - up to £148 a week - which rises to £225 for two or more children. The grant covers both term-time and the holidays, but it does have to be 'prescribed' childcare (previously registered or approved). How much help you get depends on your income and that of your dependants.

Parents' Learning Allowance: this allowance is intended to cover course costs for full-time students with children. In 2007/08 this was worth up to £1,435 a year. How much help you get depends on your income and that of your dependants.

Adult Dependants' Grant: this grant is intended to help people attending university or college who have an adult depending on them financially. They could be a partner of either sex or a relative unable to support themselves. However, you can't count grown-up sons or daughters as adult dependants. How much help you get depends on your income and that of your dependants. It can be worth up to £2,510 a year.

Disabled students

There is help (Disabled Students Allowances, or DSAs) for disabled students that can make a substantial difference to a student's financial circumstances. They can, for example, be towards the cost of a helper, travel, or extra expenses for coursework, and are available to both full- and part-time students. You can find out more information from www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance or through your local authority. It may also be a good idea to check with your university or college for any additional support they may provide. Skill: the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities has a wide range of advice available on its website www.skill.org.uk.

The NHS Student Grants website contains further information for students taking a course which is funded by the NHS and leads to professional registration.

Travel costs

There are certain exceptions with regard to travel costs: most students will have to fund themselves, but some may be able to apply for a grant. For example, medical and dental students can apply if they have to travel for clinical training, and students who have to study abroad as part of their course may also be eligible. This is decided by your local authority; if you are eligible, they will refund part of your travel expenses.

Mature or independent students

The term 'mature student' is not a recognised student finance term, but independent students are classified as students who:

have care of a person under the age of 18 on the first day of the academic year for which they are applying for support; or
are aged 25 or over on the first day of the academic year for which they are applying for support; or
have been married or formed a civil partnership before the start of the academic year for which they are applying for support; or
have no living parents; or
have supported themselves for at least three years.

This is not an exhaustive list.

An independent student is able to apply for the same support as a dependent student, but an independent student's assessment is based on their own income and that of their partner (if appropriate), not their parents. Your Adult Guidance Service or careers company offers help and advice about entering higher education, including access to our web-based application system, Apply.

You may also find it helpful to visit the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education website. It promotes the interests of everyone concerned with adult education. Another useful website is the Workers' Educational Association, the UK's largest voluntary provider of adult learning opportunities.

International students

Students who live outside the UK and European Union are classed as international students and will normally have to pay a higher level of fee than home students. Fees for international students are set by individual universities and colleges - look at prospectuses or websites for current information on what you will need to pay. There may be scholarships available: for more information on these, contact your chosen university or college, your local British Council office, or go to www.britishcouncil.org.

Part-time students

There is help available for part-time students in the form of non-repayable grants, but students must be studying a course that is the equivalent of at least 50% of a full-time course.

There is a fee grant worth up to £1,150 (but see below), and a non-repayable course grant of up to £250 that is intended to cover the cost of books and equipment. How much of either grant you get will depend on your income and that of your husband, wife or partner. You do not have to pay this help back. You cannot usually get this help if you already have a degree.

How much fee grant you get also depends on how intensive your course is:

For students on a part-time course equivalent to 50-59% of the full-time course	£765 maximum fee grant
For students on a part-time course equivalent to 60 - 74% of the full-time course	£920 maximum fee grant
For students on a part-time course equivalent to 75% or more of the full-time course	£1,150 maximum fee grant

How much course grant you get does not depend on how intensive your course is.

Application forms are available through your chosen higher education institution, or from www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance.