Student Finance England - Parents' Learning Allowance

Parents' Learning Allowance

You will receive a grant of up to £2,024 per academic year (about 2,350 EUR) to cover study-related costs whilst you are studying, provided you have dependent children. This is a grant, not a loan, so you will never have to repay this amount. The exact amount depends on your household income, including the income of your spouse, civil partner or the person you live with. This is a UK-wide scheme administered by Student Finance England and listed here for students at Lincoln Bishop University (formerly Bishop Grosseteste University). The grant is not taken into account when Jobcentre Plus calculates your entitlement to benefits.

Who can apply

• Dependent children: You have children who are financially dependent on you. If both parents are studying and live together, both may claim the same child. If you live apart, only the parent on whom the child is dependent may claim the child.
• Course: You are studying full-time on a Bachelor’s degree programme, an Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course or a Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE).
• Residence: You are permanently resident in England.
• Student finance: You have applied for, or are already receiving, means-tested funding from Student Finance England.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Nationality: Applicants of any nationality are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that you are permanently resident in England.

How to apply

You can apply for this online via Student Finance England at www.gov.uk/student-finance as part of your application for student finance. No separate procedure is required on the part of the university.

How realistic are your chances?

No committee decides whether to award this grant. It is means-tested, which means the amount depends on your income. If you meet the eligibility criteria and your household income falls within the specified range, you will receive the grant. The two factors that determine the amount are your income and whether you have dependent children; you can provide direct evidence of both. Apply for the grant at the same time as your main student finance, so that it can be assessed as part of the same process.