Money matters

Childcare

What financial support is available whilst studying?

Please note: There are no changes planned for the childcare support outlined below under the new 2012 funding system.

For students studying full-time:

If you are a full-time Higher education student with dependant children you may be able to get extra financial help. The Childcare Grant can cover up to 85 per cent of your childcare costs during term time and holidays up to a set limit. Parents' Learning Allowance is a grant to help with your learning costs.

'Find out more about the Childcare Grant and Parents' Learning Allowance

Child Tax Credit is a means-tested allowance for parents and carers of children or young people who are still in full-time education. Nine out of ten families with children qualify for Child Tax Credit.

If you're working more than 16 hours a week and you're on a low income, you may be able to get Working Tax Credit too.

The Working Tax Credit includes a specific element to support the cost of registered or approved childcare for working parents. The childcare element can help with up to 70 per cent of your eligible childcare costs, up to a set limit. Find out more about the childcare element.

If you or your spouse/partner get the childcare element of the working tax credits you won’t be able to get the Childcare Grant as well. It is up to you to decide which one to apply for.

For students studying part-time:

All of the above childcare funding for full-time students is available for part-time students as well, with the only exception to this being the Childcare Grant and the Parents' Learning Allowance. Part-time students are expected to claim the childcare element of the Working Tax credits instead of the Childcare Grant, provided they are working more than 16 hours per week and are on a low income.