Grants and funding

DSA provides extra support for those students who incur extra course costs as a direct result of their disability. This support is not income assessed and you don’t have to repay it.

You can apply for DSA before you start your course and should contact your student finance provider for more details. If you're a part-time student you can apply for a pro-rata DSA as long as you are studying at least 50% of the course that full-time students would study each year.

If not already receiving them, students with dependents can apply for Tax Credits through HM Revenue & Customs. 

Eligible undergraduate students with dependents can apply for grants and allowances and will receive these on top of their  tuition fee and maintenance loans:

• Adult Dependants Grant  (income assessed but not repayable)  
• Parents Learning Allowance (income assessed but not repayable) 
• Childcare Grant  (income assessed but not repayable)

Help with childcare costs

Both undergraduate and postgraduate students may be eligible for government help with childcare costs through tax-free childcare, 2, 3 and 4 year old free childcare, (15 hours over 38 weeks) or (11 hours over 50 weeks), 3 and 4 year old free childcare (30 hours over 38 weeks) or (22 hours over 50 weeks), tax credits, universal childcare, care to learn. 

Applicants who have been in local authority or foster care can receive a one-off higher education bursary of £2,000 from your local authority, which is paid in instalments. Your local authority will be able to assist in the application and answer any questions you may have.