Parents' Learning Allowances for full-time students
If you have dependent children, you can apply for extra help with course-related costs. Content provided by Student Finance England.
If you have dependent children, you can apply for extra help with course-related costs. Content provided by Student Finance England.
Maximum allowance for the 2024 to 2025 academic year | Maximum allowance for the 2023 to 2024 academic year |
---|---|
£1,963 | £1,915 |
You can apply for a Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) if you’re a full-time undergraduate student, or a full-time postgraduate ITT student, and have children who depend on you financially. This allowance helps with the extra costs associated with being a parent and a student. You don’t need to be paying for childcare to be eligible.
Tuition fee only funding students are not eligible for Parents’ Learning Allowance.
When applying for a Parents' Learning Allowance, Student Finance England may ask you to provide additional evidence so they can make sure you get all the student finance you're entitled to.
Evidence of the child's identity:
Evidence the child depends on you:
Continuing students
If you’re a continuing student applying for dependants’ grants that you’ve been assessed for in previous academic years, you won’t have to provide any additional evidence. However, if your circumstances have changed, or you’ve had another child, you’ll be asked to provide evidence to support this.
Student Finance England will pay any Parents' Learning Allowance you’re entitled to directly into your bank account in three instalments, usually at the same time as any other student finance you get. If you apply after the start of your course, your Parents' Learning Allowance might be paid later than your other student finance.
You won’t have to pay back your Parents’ Learning Allowance unless you’re overpaid due to a change in your circumstances – it’s important to let Student Finance England know if your circumstances change.
You must apply for a Parents’ Learning Allowance within nine months of the start of the academic year. You should upload a copy of your child’s original birth certificate and a copy of your most recent tax credit or Universal Credit Award Notice.