We hope the information on this page will help when your son or daughter is applying for student funding. The regulations for student support are complex but we have put together the most important points to help when they are making their application. There is additional information about the amount of grants and loans available to students from the Student Financial Support Unit.
There is also information from the University Admissions Office to help parents of new and prospectives students, and the Widening Participation Office has information for students who are already parents or are non-traditional students
For students wishing to enter university in October 2008. If your son/daughter has not yet applied for student support they are advised to apply as soon as possible.
They can apply online at: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/Doitonlinestudentfinance/DG_10035460
Alternatively they can apply on paper, form PN1 for new students this can be downloaded from the following web site: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/UniversityAndHigherEducation/StudentFinance/index.htm
Pre-printed copies are available from the University’s Student Support Office 01904 434140 or email student-support@york.ac.uk
Household Income:
When calculating student support it is the ‘residual household income’ that is assessed. This is the gross household income less any allowable deductions such as pension contributions and £1,100 for each other child dependant (under 16, 16-20 in Further Education) and/or other dependant student in Higher Education.
Income that is assessed:
If a prospective student is under the age of 25 their income will normally be based on parental income. If they are married or live with a partner their income will also be taken into account as part of the ‘household income’. The student’s own earnings while studying are not included in the income assessment.
Providing your income details and documentation :
When you are required to give your income details you will need proof of annual earnings from employment, self-employment and any other income e.g. income from pensions; bank/building society interest.
Your son or daughter does not have to see details of your income if you do not wish to share that information with them. When you are asked to provide your income details as part of a student support application you will be asked to register and be given you own ART (Automated Response) ID and password so you can provide your details separately.
Should your income drop before your son/daughter starts university or during the 2008/9 academic year you should write to your Local Authority as soon as possible and provide proof of the change in your income, it may be possible for the Local authority to reassess the application and your son or daughter may get more grants or loan.
Independent status:
In certain circumstances students under the age of 25 may be considered to be independent of their parents, they are assessed for support based on their own income.
Some examples are:
Your son or daughter would have to provide evidence of any of the above in order to be assessed as an independent student. If you think this would apply to your son or daughter you may like to prompt them to contact the Student Support Office.
Students wishing to study Social Work should apply for the support as outlined above in the undergraduate degree. They can also apply for an additional Social Work Bursary. For an application pack please visit the following web site: http://www.ppa.org.uk/swb The Social Work bursary for undergraduate programmes is not income assessed so parents will not be asked for their financial details.
Students wishing to study for a Nursing or Midwifery degree can apply for a maintenance loan as detailed above in the undergraduate degree. Your son or daughter can also apply for a NHS Bursary in addition to the maintenance loan. Application packs can be downloaded from http://www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk/
Students who live in their parent’s home during their course, or immediately prior to the start of the course, will be assessed as being dependent on their parents regardless of the age of the student. There are exceptions to this rule where the student has a dependant child, is married or in a civil partnership at the start of the academic year.
Where a student is living with a partner, the partner’s income is taken into account for the NHS Bursary.
Please see the NHS Bursaries web site for further information about how the residual household income is calculated.
Students on the Nursing Diploma course should apply to the NHS Student Bursaries team for the non means-tested NHS bursary. Applications forms can be downloaded from the following web site http://www.nhsstudentgrants.co.uk/
Neither the student or parents are required to give details of income for the non means-tested bursary. However, If your son or daughter has children or a partner and they wish to apply for additional allowances to the non means-tested bursary they will need to submit income details for assessment, via a separate claim form .
Page last updated July 2008 sm49 Legal statement