Money - Students with Children
Entering university is a big enough step for most people. For those with dependant children it can be especially difficult, as there are many things to consider - including funding.
This information addresses funding from a variety of sources for students with children, but concentrates on funding for full-time UK undergraduate students. If you are a nursing/midwifery student; an international student; a postgraduate student or a part-time student, you may wish to follow the appropriate link on our main money web page.
The information is a brief guide and we would urge anyone wanting further advice and information to contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
You may also find the DfES Childcare Grant and other support for student parents in higher education useful.
Further information on financial support for childcare is available from the National Union of Students .
The first thing to do if you are worried about money, is to speak to someone about your concerns. Initially, this could be the Student Advice & Representation Centre or Student Services.
Assistance Through the Local Education Authority
Tuition Fees
You may be able to get up to 100% assistance from your LEA with your tuition fees - help towards fees in means-tested. Fees for the 2005/06 academic year are £1,175.
Student Loan
You will be able to take out a students loan to help you with your living costs - 75% in non-means tested, 25% is means tested. The student loan for 2005/06 is £4,195 (£3,645 for a final year student) for a student studying in Nottingham who does not live in their parents home.
Childcare Grant
If you have dependant children and pay for registered and accredited childcare, you may be able to get help with 85% of the cost. Maximum assistance is £114.75 for one child and £170 for two children.
If you are getting the Lone Parents grant and started your course in 2000/01 or before, you can choose to stay in receipt of this instead of the Childcare grant. However, you won't be able to apply for the PLA (below) if you receive the Lone Parent' grant.
Parents' Learning Allowance
You can get help with course-related costs of up to £1,365 a year if you have dependant children. How much you get is dependent on your income and that of your dependants.
Adult Dependants' grant
If you have a husband, wife or partner (or another adult member of your family) who depend on you financially, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £2,395 a year. How much you get will depend on your income and that of your adult dependants.
Other Funding
Other grants and loans are available from the Local Education Authority if you are:
- studying part-time
- disabled
- a care leaver
- having to pay extra costs as a result of your course (medical/dental students)
- maintaining two homes
- Taking a teacher-training course.
For more information on funding through Local Education Authorities, please contact the Student Advice Centre.
Tax Credits from the Inland Revenue
Child Tax Credit
If you are responsible for children you may be entitled to receive Child Tax Credit - you do not have to working to be eligible to claim. If you or your family have a gross income of less than &50,000 per year, Child Tax Credit will be payable. Furthermore, when calculating entitlement to Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit, only the Adult Dependant Grant is treated as income out of your student income (the PLA and student loan is ignored) - therefore, it is likely that a lot of students who are responsible for children will be entitled to some Child Tax Credit.
Working Tax Credit
Students may be entitled to claim Working Tax Credit, which may include an amount to help with childcare costs. If you or your partner are responsible for children, in order to be eligible to receive Working Tax Credit the claimant must be in paid employment for at least 16 hours per week. In order to be eligible for help with childcare costs when you are a member of a couple, both would be required to be in paid employment for a minimum of 16 hours per week.
If you or your partner are not responsible for children, you may still be eligible to receive some Working Tax Credit, but the claimant will have to be at least 25 years old and working for a minimum of 30 hours per week.
Assistance Through the University
Access to Learning Fund
You may be able to apply to the Access to Learning Fund if you are on a low income and need extra financial support. You must be a home student on a full-time or part-time, undergraduate or postgraduate, course. Students with children, other mature students, students from low income families, disabled students and students in their final year are given priority. You will not have to repay any money you receive from the Access to Learning Fund.
Assistance from The University of Nottingham
Child Care Support Scheme
If you have childcare costs, you should first apply for the Childcare Grant for help, via your LEA. If you have a shortfall, you should then apply to the Access to Learning Fund for help with this. However, if you feel you still need further assistance with childcare costs, the University Child Care Support Scheme can offer eligible students some financial support towards meeting the costs of childcare. All students at the University, whether on full or part-time courses, who incur childcare costs (e.g. at day nurseries or through using childminders etc.) can apply. As funds are limited, the University adopts a selective approach to the allocation of payments, so that those students who are most in need will benefit from the scheme.
Student Crisis Fund
The University has a small Student Crisis Fund from which it can give discretionary help to students who are in financial difficulty due to a change of circumstances after starting their course. Help is by way of small interest-free loans. You will need to contact Student Services if you wish to apply.
Emergency Loan Scheme
If you are waiting for some guaranteed funding to come thorough and need a small short-term loan, the Students' Union administer an emergency loan scheme on behalf of the University. The maximum a student can borrow is £50 and students must be able to leave a cheque with the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Welfare Benefits
If you are in full-time education, you will generally be ineligible to claim income-related benefits like Income Support, income-based Job Seekers Allowance and/or Housing Benefit. However, you may be eligible to claim if you are:
- A single parent
- A student with a qualifying disability
- A student with a partner
- Over pensionable age
- A part-time student
- Absent from your course due to illness or because you have caring responsibilities (in limited circumstances) and your illness/caring responsibility has ended
- If you have a non-student partner, they may be able to claim on behalf of the couple.
If you fit into one of these categories, you should contact the Student Advice & Representation Centre to see if you are eligible to claim - we can do a calculation for you if we think you are eligible and give you information on claiming.
It is worth noting that the student loan and adult dependants grant is not classed as income during July and August so even if you are not entitled to benefits, or have limited entitlement, during term-time, you may be eligible during these two months.
Advice on all non-means and means tested benefits is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
Employment
Employment is another possible source of income, and students can look for employment through the Student Employment and Work Experience service based in the Centre for Career Development, 1st Floor, Portland Building, University Park (Tel: 0115 951 4744).
If you work more than 16 hours a week and you have children, you may be entitled to Working Tax Credit.
Income Tax
Each person has a personal tax allowance, which means that they can earn a certain amount each year and tax is not payable on that income. The amount for April 2005 to April 2006 is £4,895 for a single person. If you work during your course and pay tax you may be entitled to a refund of tax at the end of the financial year. This may be refunded automatically through your wages or you may need to contact your local Inland Revenue office and make a claim.
Trust and Charities
Education trusts and charities are a possible source of help for students in financial difficulty. The trusts are perhaps most likely to offer assistance if you are near to the end of your course or if you have met unforeseen difficulties at an earlier stage. In most cases, only small amounts of money can be obtained.
Although there are thousands of trusts that award funding to students, most have very specific criteria of eligibility. For example, certain trusts will help only students born in a particular town, or whose parents were employed in a particular profession, or who are undertaking a particular course of study. Some trusts will provide assistance to students of a particular nationality, religion or ethnicity, and some will offer assistance only to women.
The Student Advice & Representation Centre can help you to identify which trusts may be able to offer help. We have access to various sources of information on trusts and charities. We also subscribe to Funderfinder, a software programme that can run a search of trusts and charities who may be able to help you. You can also try going through the Educational Grants Advisory Service .
Having a Baby?
The Student Advice & Representation Centre can give you details of the various sources of funding (LEA support; help through the University; benefits and tax credits etc.) you may be entitled to when your baby is born. In some circumstances, you may be entitled to additional help when you are pregnant. If you would like us to go through this with you, please get in touch with us.
Budseting
When you are living on a low income, budgeting is a necessary tool to enable you to manage your money. Click here for basic information on budgeting and helping your money last. More information on budgeting is available from the Student Advice & Representation Centre.
University of Nottingham Students' Union
Portland Building, University Park , Nottingham NG7 2RD
Tel: + 44 (0)115 846 8800 Fax: + 44 (0)115 846 8801
© 2005 University of Nottingham Students' Union