Living on my own can I get a grant

ddd#

I don’t live with my parents anymore and live I a single bed flat, I would like to go to London Met next year but can’t afford to pay any fees, My parents earn over £40k but will not pay for my course (I don’t have contact with them anymore) will I get a grant as I live on my own and earn under 10k per year?

fragster

I think you will get your tuition fees paid for you which is equiv of a small grant, fees are around £1200 a year, you will also get a larger loan as if you are not living with parents or getting any contribution from them they take this into account, i think you get around an extra £1500, and as you are studying in london you get an extra £1500 as well on normal loan i think, which means your loan should be around 6k + fees paid per year... this is all from memory as i dont have stuff to hand but phone someone at your council if you wanna check it or use google

stuwilky

http://www.aimhigher.ac.uk/student_finance/index.cfm

The Aim Higher website is one of the more useful websites on fudning, it is not however always accurate. It does not necessarily include every grant available.

The best way to find out how much funding is automatically available to you is to apply to your local Authority, you can usually do this from February or March prior to your intended start date. The assessment varies in the time it takes but the earlier you apply the quicker it is.

One of the key issues in your case appears to be whether you are classed as as "independant student" or not. Unfortuantely this isnt as simple as actually being financially independant, there are timescales and proof required in some cases (but dont let that deter you).

Another source of info might be the student services department of London Met. Whilst they are technically only there to assist existing students I think they are likely to assist in the recruitment of one, especially as (for a specialist) your query is relatively straightforward.

Sorry to be so wordy, but for a simple question there are so many variables...

keef_2

To be classed as an independent student you must have been "self supporting" for a period of at least 3 years, be over 25 or be married.

To have been "self supporting" for three years means you have been out of full time education for this long and have been earning a sufficient amount to live off.

Unfortunately if you cannot fill the above criteria you will be assesssed on your parents income. As I'm sure you can understand if it was the case that a student could get full support because their parents didn't want to fund them then every medium/high income family would say exactly that. The only way this kind of scenario could be used is if you are "estranged" from your parents in which case evidence would be needed e.g police reports/social worker info

keef_2

bit more info - based on a standard course (i.e not NHS funded, etc)

In 2005/2006 the support will be as follows

With parental income taken into account (approx 40k)
grant - none
fees - you will have to pay £1,200
loan - approx £4,200

full support (if you are independent)
grant - £1000
fees - paid by Local Education Authority
loan - approx £5,100

If you may be able to apply for independent status next year there may be a lot of benefit in you waiting. No support for 06/07 is definite yet as the paper has not been passed but the main differences will be top up fees and maintenance grants of approx £3000. So in other words the richer end of applicants will be paying more and the poorer end getting even more free money thrown at them.

Here's the sneaky bit (read carefully) whilst fees,loan,HE grant is administered by the LEA there will be some grant given by unis (this is obligatory due to them having top-up fees) so even if you are assessed to pay your fees the uni may waive them and award you approx £3k grant as they will take your circumstances into account.

For any more info you're best contacting your Local Education Authority

stuwilky

There are other exceptions to the independant criteria, such as no longer being in touch with them, where the timesclare required referred to can be waived, more details are in the funding booklets..