Institute of Education London

Additional support

The following information is about the funding available to UK Home students in addition to any normal grants or loans they may be entitled to apply for. Please note this information is for UK Home students only, international students please go to the international student pages.
  

Grants for students with families
Access to Learning Fund
Tax Credits
Welfare Benefits
Other Sources of Funding

Grants for Students with Families
The amount you receive will depend upon your household income. Your income as a student will not be counted in the assessment.

Who Can Apply  

• Students on a PGCE course full or part time, Foundation degree, or B Ed full time
• UK residents and some EU students who have been living and working in the UK

How to apply
New students apply online as soon as you have made your course application at Student Finance England  using Form PN1.
Continuing students contact your local authority and apply using Form PR1.

Available Grants

• Grants for dependent children
  These have been replaced by Tax Credits. Students in receipt of income support payments for child dependants need to apply for child tax credits.
• Special support grant: Up to £2,906
  For students who are eligible to receive benefits such as Income Support and Housing Benefit. This grant replaces the Maintenance Grant and will not be counted as income for benefit purposes.
• Parents' learning allowance: up to £1,508
  Income assessed help with course costs for students with children.
• Adult dependants' grant: up to £2,642
  For students with a financially dependent partner or adult (usually a family member)  whose net income does not exceed £3,796.
• Childcare grant
  For students using registered childcare. You will receive 85% of your actual childcare costs. The maximum available in 2011-12 will be:
  £148.75 per week if you have one child
  £255.00  per week if you have two or more children

Tax Credits
These are administered by HM Revenue and Customs and are available to families with children and to some individuals who are working.
Child tax credits are income assessed and replace the grants for child dependants.

• Child tax credits
  Who can apply
  UK residents with children aged up to 19 years. You do not need to be working.
• Working Tax Credits
  Who can apply
  • UK residents with children and working 16+ hours per week
  • UK residents with a disability and working 16+ hours per week
  • UK residents aged 50+ and working 16+ hours per week
  • UK residents aged 25+ and working 30+ hours per week

How to apply
HM Revenue & Customs

Further information
Tax Credits Calculator
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Access to Learning Fund
This income assessed fund is administered by the Institute of Education. It can assist students with financial difficulties and helps with course related costs. The fund cannot be used as a sole source of funding or to pay tuition fees. Students should apply for any student loan entitlements before applying to the fund. You can apply at any time during your course. Applications normally take 4-5 weeks.

This fund is available for

•  UK students and certain EU students who are living in the UK

• Students currently registered on a course at the Institute of Education.

Application procedure

You will need to complete an application form to demonstrate that your projected income will not cover your living and course related costs. Please read the application guidance notes carefully to ensure you provide the correct supporting information. Your application may be delayed if you supply incorrect information. Printed out application forms are also available from the Student Support Centre
 

Welfare benefits
If you are a part time student, or a full time student who is disabled, or a single parent, you may be eligible to apply for benefits such as housing benefit, JSA and Income Support. For information visit the following website:
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Other Sources of Funding

The Hockerill Foundations

Grants are available for the following students                                            
PGCE, B Ed, Foundation Degree Students, and in particular students studying Religious Education courses.
• students and teaching assistants taking teaching qualifications*, or first degrees leading to teaching.
• teachers, teaching assistants and others in an educational capacity seeking professional development through full-time or part-time courses.
• those undertaking research related to the practice of Religious Education in schools or further education
• students taking other first degree courses*, or courses in further education.
• others involved in teaching and leading in voluntary, non-statutory education, including those concerned with adult and Christian education.

Deadline for Applications: 31 May 2012
Further information:   www.hockerillfoundation.org.uk

The Reeves Foundation

Grants are available for the following students

The Foundation's area of benefit covers the London boroughs of Camden, Islington and the City of London.

Who can apply?

To be eligible to apply you must be aged 25 or under (in exceptional cases this may be extended to 40) and either

• you or your parent/s must have lived or worked for the last 12 months, or for at least two of the last ten years, in the area of benefit (see above)
or
• you must have been studying at a school, college or university in the area of benefit (see above) and have been enrolled there for at least the last twelve months

Applications from refugees with exceptional and indefinite leave to remain are welcome, provided they meet the above criteria. We are also, depending on individual circumstances, able to make grants to people whose asylum claims are still being processed, but we cannot consider applications from overseas students who are resident in the UK on a student visa.

Deadline for applications
April 2012 - Interested applicants should contact the Foundation before submitting an application.

Further information:  www.richardreevesfoundation.org.uk

The following websites also have information on funding:
Postgraduate Funding
Educational Grants Advisory Service