Disability Allowance
Students with disabilities are entitled to Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) – to help meet the cost of equipment or support. This is not income assessed.
A specialist organisation, SKILL also offers information on all matters relating to higher education for people with disabilities.
Students With Commitments
Students with dependants and single parent students are also entitled to extra grants to meet living costs but these are income assessed. Visit the student finance: getting extra help page on DirectGov for more information.
Part-Time Work
Nowadays more than half of students undertake term-time employment, while others work in their vacations. Some have saved up through part-time, vacation and gap year work before starting higher education. The Student Tax Advice pages on DirectGov include a student tax calculator which will tell you how much tax you should be paying.
Charitable and Educational Trusts, Scholarships and Bursaries
It’s possible to get help from these sources, which are often geared to a locality, a particular area of work or course but are unlikely to cover the full costs.
A few organisations e.g. Armed Forces, retailers and banks will sponsor students in any subject. You can be sponsored for a full-time or a sandwich course. Some companies offer sponsorship to students part-way through their course or in their final year. Competition for sponsorship is fierce so, if you are interested, you have to research opportunities and apply early. A good place to start is the UK Sponsorship website.
Further Options
Financial help for Health Care Students can be found at NHS Careers.
Funder Finder is a not-for-profit organisation in the UK which identifies charitable trusts that might give money for welfare or educational needs. Connexions staff have access to the Funderfinder database.
Family Action
Family Action has been making grants to families and individuals in need since its foundation in 1869. They make both welfare grants, meeting a range of essential needs and educational grants, for the additional costs associated with education such as travel, books and equipment.
