What additional support is available this year 09/10?

This page applies to Academic Year 2009/10. You can also find information regarding support available in Academic Year 08/09.

Bursaries

Bursaries are extra financial help for students which are provided by the college or university that you attend.

There will be a National Bursary Scheme operating for students in Higher Education in Wales. Further details are available at the Welsh Bursaries Scheme home page.

If you have children or dependants

Childcare grant

For students with children, the amount you receive will be dependent upon your household income and is based on 85% of your actual childcare costs. This will be paid in three instalments like your student loan and does not have to be repaid.

The maximum available is £161.50 per week if you have one child and £274.55 per week if you have two or more children.  Students on a part-time course will receive a pro-rated amount based upon their intensity of study. 

Parents’ learning allowance

For help with course-related costs for students with children. The amount you receive will be dependent upon your household income. The amount of Parents Learning Allowance payable will be between £50 and £1,508. This will be paid in three instalments like your student loan and does not have to be repaid.  Students on a part-time course will receive a pro-rated amount based upon their intensity of study.

Adult Dependant’s Grant

For 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. You can receive up to £2,647.

How much you get depends on your income and that of your adult dependants. This will be paid in three instalments like your student loan and does not have to be repaid.  Students on a part-time course will receive a pro-rated amount based upon their intensity of study.

If you are a disabled student

Disabled students’ allowances

For help with extra course-related costs which arise as a result of your disability. Your household income has no effect on the amount you receive.

Disabled students’ allowances (DSAs) for postgraduate study

Full- and part-time disabled students including distance-learning students, whose courses have an entry requirement of at least a first degree and last for at least one academic year, can receive an allowance of up to £10,260. If the course is part time, you must complete it in no longer than twice the time taken to complete an equivalent full-time course.

Postgraduates who receive awards from universities and colleges which include support for disabilities are also not eligible for postgraduate DSAs.

Care Leavers Grant

For full time students who left care before the Children (Leaving Care) Act was introduced on October 1st 2001; were aged 16 or over when they left care; had been in care for at least three months; and are under 21 at the start of their course. This grant is to help with your accommodation costs in the long (usually summer) holidays. You can receive up to £100 a week during the long holidays depending on your circumstances. It is paid either directly to you or, with your permission, to your landlord. You will not have to repay this grant.

Loan rates for extra attendance if your course is longer than normal

You can get an extra amount of income-assessed loan to cover each extra week you have to be on your course above 30 term-time weeks (plus the short holidays). If you have to be on the course for 45 weeks or more in any 12-month period, you will get an extra amount of loan as if you were studying for 52 weeks. The most you can get each week is as follows: