Student finance
Hi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
Reply 1
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
hey you would probably be eligble for full student loan which is about 12k per year, alongside the 9k for tuition fee loan. lots of unis also offer scholarships. you are also eligable for universal credit as you have a child so may be worth looking into that. if you want to earn money while at uni too, tuition is a good way to do that as you can charge more money per hour than other jobs and thus dont have to work as much. im 20 and charge £35 an hour so only do a few hours a week and it tides me over.
Reply 2
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
Hey there,
Student finance have applications in their general finance dedicated to bursaries for carers and those with children and also disabilities. You can apply for those to get max loan which usually comes up to ~12,000 (containing 3k bursary and 9k loan) and ~10000 for areas outside London (the bursary parts you do not usually need to pay back), it all depends on household earnings and whether you move into accommodation or similar. Every University also offers their own hardship scholarships/bursaries too so please do check them on their websites beforehand. Some have subsidised childcare, local nurseries for parents who are students too. Many can be given automatically while others are application based. Do carefully read their requirements and hand-in deadlines beforehand! Universal credit can also be an option though I will say to read about this carefully as you often owe money afterwards based on the amount you earn when you do start earning (wage-based).
If you are seeking advice on jobs, many unis have their own student unions that can offer roles for part-time work including bartenders, baristas, venue management, student ambassador and more. These tend to pay quite nicely and the shifts are all up to you!
Have all proof and documentation ready in case you are challenges and speak to your Uni wellbeing teams to ensure you are accessing all the resources they offer!
Hope that helps,
Aura (Uni of Staffs)
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
Where do you normally live (England, Wales, Scotland, NI) and what subject will you be studying?
Reply 4
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
Hi there, I hope you are well.
When it comes to applying for Student Finance, you typically would do it through the normal SFE procedure. However, you can also email or call SFE to try and discuss the application and gain any more applicable insight. I have found this particularly valuable throughout my studies.
Best of luck and I hope it goes well!
Brandon - Student Rep
Reply 5
2
Original post
by normawWhere do you normally live (England, Wales, Scotland, NI) and what subject will you be studying?
Reply 6
2
Original post
by StaffsRep AuraHey there,
Student finance have applications in their general finance dedicated to bursaries for carers and those with children and also disabilities. You can apply for those to get max loan which usually comes up to ~12,000 (containing 3k bursary and 9k loan) and ~10000 for areas outside London (the bursary parts you do not usually need to pay back), it all depends on household earnings and whether you move into accommodation or similar. Every University also offers their own hardship scholarships/bursaries too so please do check them on their websites beforehand. Some have subsidised childcare, local nurseries for parents who are students too. Many can be given automatically while others are application based. Do carefully read their requirements and hand-in deadlines beforehand! Universal credit can also be an option though I will say to read about this carefully as you often owe money afterwards based on the amount you earn when you do start earning (wage-based).
If you are seeking advice on jobs, many unis have their own student unions that can offer roles for part-time work including bartenders, baristas, venue management, student ambassador and more. These tend to pay quite nicely and the shifts are all up to you!
Have all proof and documentation ready in case you are challenges and speak to your Uni wellbeing teams to ensure you are accessing all the resources they offer!
Hope that helps,
Aura (Uni of Staffs)
Student finance have applications in their general finance dedicated to bursaries for carers and those with children and also disabilities. You can apply for those to get max loan which usually comes up to ~12,000 (containing 3k bursary and 9k loan) and ~10000 for areas outside London (the bursary parts you do not usually need to pay back), it all depends on household earnings and whether you move into accommodation or similar. Every University also offers their own hardship scholarships/bursaries too so please do check them on their websites beforehand. Some have subsidised childcare, local nurseries for parents who are students too. Many can be given automatically while others are application based. Do carefully read their requirements and hand-in deadlines beforehand! Universal credit can also be an option though I will say to read about this carefully as you often owe money afterwards based on the amount you earn when you do start earning (wage-based).
If you are seeking advice on jobs, many unis have their own student unions that can offer roles for part-time work including bartenders, baristas, venue management, student ambassador and more. These tend to pay quite nicely and the shifts are all up to you!
Have all proof and documentation ready in case you are challenges and speak to your Uni wellbeing teams to ensure you are accessing all the resources they offer!
Hope that helps,
Aura (Uni of Staffs)
Thank you! When should I start with the applying for student finance and bursaries?
Reply 7
2
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
Hi I just want to mention I'm looking to go to Lincoln university in September, so if that helps with the answers
Reply 8
Original post
by ChantelleRSThank you! When should I start with the applying for student finance and bursaries?
Hi,
For SFE applications tend to open around March time, the earlier the better. For bursaries external to the University these can even start in September the year before, it is always worth reading up on them and their deadlines. In terms of internal bursaries they will often open up in September, the year you join or earlier to support new students. Please have a look at your University websites to ensure you are aware of any deadlines and opening dates. Some work on a first-come first-served basis!
Reply 9
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi Everyone, I'm starting uni in September and wondering how I apply for help financially. I have a two year old and a single parent. While attending uni I will struggle to work and I'm worried about how I will cope financially.
Starting university as a single parent can feel daunting, but please be reassured that there is a lot of financial and practical support available.
You can apply for Student Finance England for:
•
Tuition Fee Loan
•
Maintenance Loan (this is means-tested and usually higher for students with children)
•
Parents’ Learning Allowance, https://www.gov.uk/parents-learning-allowance
You’re absolutely not alone in this, and many student parents complete their degrees with the right support in place. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at [email protected].
Best wishes,
Elmehdi - DMU representative and current student
Original post
by ChantelleRSHi I will be studying Nursing, and live in north east Lincolnshire and will be going to Lincoln university
Thanks for clarifying. In that case you will apply through Student Finance England and applications for Sep/Oct 2026 entry will open around early March. You will be able to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans, and if eligible, the Parents' Learning Allowance. You would start your application here:
https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance
As you are studying nursing in England, you will also be able to apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund for the training grant of £5k per year and the parental support grant of £2k per year. If you are studying mental health nursing, you will receive the Specialist Subject Payment of an additional £1k per year. Payments are split into three instalments over the year, the first one being in November. I recommend you apply for this from June onwards.
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund-lsf
You might also qualify automatically for the University of Lincoln Scholarship for low-income households:
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/studywithus/scholarshipsandbursaries/universityoflincolnscholarship/
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