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Student Finance

Extra help

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Funding for both universities and students is changing from September 2012 onwards. Much of the detail about the financial support available to students is still to be confirmed, and more details will be available on the website as soon as the information is available. Please note the figures below are for 2011/12 unless noted otherwise.

Depending on your individual circumstances, you may be eligible for financial support other that that described on the Support towards living costs page. Please choose a title that applies to you;

Disabled students

If you have a disability then you may be entitled to the Disabled Students Allowances (DSA). These grants help with the extra costs you may have as a direct result of your disability and include; a specialist equipment allowance of up to £5,035 for the whole course; a non-medical helpers allowance of up to £20,000 a year; and a general disabled students allowance of up to 1,685 a year and support towards extra travel costs you have to pay to attend the University as a direct result of your disability. Entitlement to these grants does not depend on your income or that of your family. Your LA will assess your eligibility and if successful, the DSA is paid in the form of a non-repayable grant.

Further information can be obtained in the DIUS booklet, 'Bridging the Gap'. Your LA can send you a copy, or you can get one by ringing the DIUS information line on 0800 731 9133. The University Disability Adviser will be able to assist you with your application for DSA, contact the Student Services Centre; telephone 01248 382024; Minicom 01248 371811.

Useful links

Students with children or adult dependants

Childcare Grant

Full-time students with dependent children in registered and approved childcare can apply for a Childcare Grant. You cannot get this grant if you or your spouse or partner receives the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit from HM Revenue and Customs. You can decide which one you want to have if you’re eligible for both. You can apply for this help before or during your course. You can receive a Childcare Grant during your term times and your holidays. Jobcentre Plus and Housing Benefit departments will disregard the amount Childcare Grant awarded when they work out your benefit entitlement.
How much help you get will depend on your circumstances (such as your income and that of your dependants).

The amount of childcare grant payable will be calculated on 85% of the actual childcare cost subject to a maximum grant of:

For one child - Up to £161.50 a week

For two or more children - Up to £274.55 a week

The SLC will usually pay it in three instalments, one at the start of each term, with your loan and other grants. Your LA will ask for confirmation of your actual childcare costs every term.  If you do not provide this confirmation, you may not receive your next instalment.

Parents’ Learning Allowance

This helps with course-related costs if you are a full-time students with dependent children. Jobcentre Plus and Housing Benefit departments will not count this grant when they work out your benefit entitlement.

There is up to £1,508 a year available. How much you get depends on your income and that of your dependants (including your husband, wife or partner).

The SLC will usually pay it in three instalments with your loan. This is a non repayable grant.

Adult Dependants Grant

This is available to full-time students with adult dependants. If you have a partner (including a partner of the same sex if you began your course in 2005 or after) or another adult, usually a member of your family, who depends on you financially, you may be eligible.

The grant is up to £2,647 a year. How much you get depends on your income and that of your adult dependants. The SLC will pay this in three instalments with your loan. It is a non repayable grant that does not have to be paid back.

Social Work students

If you are studying for a career in social work, you may be entitled to receive a non-repayable bursary. This is paid by the General Social Care Council, and administered by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) for Social Work students who are resident England, and is paid by the Care Council for Wales for Social Work students who are resident in Wales. The bursary is available to students studying an approved degree or diploma course in social work.

Although graduate students are not normally entitled to support from the standard student finance package, graduates on the social work undergraduate course will be entitled to apply for the full Student Loan for Maintenance (25 per cent of this is based on your income). The additional support available covers both graduate and undergraduate students. You can apply for this bursary whether or not you can access the standard student finance package.

To receive this bursary, you also have to satisfy the eligibility criteria. Students from England should visit the NHS Business Services Authority website and Students from Wales should visit the Care Council for Wales for further details.