UC and PhD

bobbstar21

Based in England.

I have been offered a PhD with a studentship of £21.5k a year. This comes from the university.

My wife has cancer and we have 2 little ones so we are in receipt of UC.

I am confused as to how the studentship is classified and how it will affect my UC.

It looks like it certainly will be fully deducted, in which case I would have to decline the PhD. But it looks like since the studentship is from the university, I am eligible to apply for a doctoral loan. Whether I apply or not, the full amount will be considered for UC and because of that, the studentship is disregarded.

With regards to the loan, only 30% is considered income for UC purposes.

Is the above correct? I have asked UC who won't elaborate on how it will affect. They first pointed me to the calculator which I said it says it's not accurate for students and then they just said it will affect UC.

marcia_

 A studentship will likely be taken off in full as income 

 But the loan is 30% as you state https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-and-students#how-student-income-affects-universal-credit