University of Birmingham - Support for students with children

What you get

If you are studying full-time for a first bachelor’s degree at the University of Birmingham and have dependent children, you may be eligible for grants that you will never have to repay. The Parents' Learning Allowance pays up to about 2,059 EUR per year (up to 1,766 GBP) to cover study-related costs, the amount of which depends on your household income. In addition, the Childcare Grant covers 85% of your actual costs for registered childcare, up to approximately 205 EUR per week (174 GBP) for one child and up to approximately 350 EUR per week (299 GBP) per week for two or more children. This is not a university grant. The university refers you to state support provided by the UK government, which is paid out via ‘Student Finance England’. Single parents may also be eligible for a higher maintenance loan and may be entitled to Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit.

Who can apply

• Level: You are in your first year of a Bachelor’s degree programme.
• Enrolment: You study full time.
• Children: You have at least one dependent child. To qualify for the child allowance, the child must be younger than 16 or between 16 and 19 years old and be in full-time education.
• Field of study: Any subject.
• Financial need: All these benefits are means-tested; so the amount you receive depends on how much you and your household earn.
• Childcare: To receive the childcare allowance, your childcare centre must be registered and authorised.
• Single parents: The increased maintenance loans and income support payments in July and August are intended for single parents who are also entitled to benefits such as income support or housing benefit.

How to apply

You do not need to submit a separate application to the university. Student Finance England will calculate the education allowance for your parents when you apply for tuition fee and living costs loans. You can apply for Childcare Allowance, Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit via the government website (gov.uk).

How realistic are your chances?

These grants are not awarded through a selection process, and there is no set number of places. If you are a full-time student and a parent on an undergraduate degree programme and your income is sufficiently low, you are automatically entitled to the grant. Your chances of receiving the grant depend on whether you meet the eligibility criteria, not on whether you outcompete other applicants. The amount is based on your income and your childcare costs, and you apply for the grant in addition to your regular student finance.