students taking part in a seminar

Supporting A Family While You Study

If you're supporting children or a dependent adult, you could be entitled to some financial help

Universal Credit

You can apply for Universal Credit (UC) as a full-time student if at least one of the following applies to you:

  • you're a lone parent (including foster parents)
  • you're living as a couple with another student and you have at least 1 dependent child
  • you're getting Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance
  • you're making a joint claim with a non-student partner who is eligible for UC in their own right

To receive support for housing costs, you must be living in rented accommodation and have a formal tenancy agreement in your name. This includes halls of residence. Support for those with a mortgage is not covered.

Applying for Universal Credit

Applications can be made online.

Universal Credit applications are administered by the Department for Work & Pensions and have replaced the support that was previously available via Tax Credits and Housing Benefit.

If you have any queries regarding eligibility whilst attending a course please contact the Student Finance Centre.

Child Benefit

Becoming a student doesn’t affect your entitlement to Child Benefit.