Extra help

Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs)

DSAs are grants to help students with the extra course costs they might face as a result of a disability, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty like dyslexia.

The allowances can help students with money towards equipment they may need such as laptops or software, non-medical helpers such as sign language interpreters and a general allowance which can be used to help with disability-related spending.

More about DSA

Child Care Grant

This helps with childcare costs for students with dependent children in registered or approved childcare. The children must be:

• aged under 15 at the beginning of the academic year; or
• dependent children under 17 if they have special educational needs.

Depending on their household income, the student can apply for 85% of their actual childcare costs during term times and holidays.

They can get up to:

• £148.75 a week for one child; or
• up to £255 a week for more than one child.

Students will not qualify for this grant if they, or their husband, wife or partner receives the childcare part of the Working Tax Credit
from HM Revenue & Customs.

We ask the student to provide estimated costs which we will use to work out their Childcare Grant payments until they provide details of the actual payments. At the end of the first term we will ask the student to provide actual costs.

We will reassess their entitlement based on these costs and, if they have been overpaid or underpaid, we will adjust the entitlement accordingly.

More about CCG

Parents' Learning Allowance (PLA)

Students can get up to £1,508 a year to help with course costs. The amount they can receive depends on their household income.

Adult Dependants' Grant (ADG)

Students with an adult dependent can get an Adult Dependants' Grant of up to £2,642 a year.

Jobcentre Plus count Adult Dependants' Grant when working out any other benefits.

More about Adult Dependant's Grant

About Adult Dependants' Grant

Access to Learning Fund

Universities and colleges offer an Access to Learning Fund to help students. They apply directly to their institution. 

Access to Learning Fund - chapters

Bursaries and scholarships

Universities and colleges offer a range of help to students. When they apply for student finance, they apply for these automatically if they consent to use sharing their details with their college or university.

National Scholarship Programme (NSP)

Students whose families' income is £25,000 a year or less may be eligible for this award. It is at the discretion of universities and colleges. These might be paid instead of part of your Tuition Fee Loan. This help can include cash or discounts with accomodation.

Students apply directly to their university or college for these types of scholarships.