The Adult Dependant’s Grant (ADG) is a financially-assessed grant potentially payable where the student has a dependant over 18. Eligible students are entitled to £2,510 (England and Northern Ireland domicile, 2007/08 figure) or £2,515 (Wales domicile), subject to assessment of the household income and the dependant’s income.

Parents’ Learning Allowance

Parents’ Learning Allowance (PLA) is a financially-assessed grant to help a student who has additional costs arising from the care of a child whilst studying. It does not address childcare costs, which are dealt with by the childcare grant instead. The child must be dependent on the student, not on the student’s partner or a third party. The maximum rate of PLA in 2007/08 is £1,435.

Childcare Grant

The Childcare grant is a financially-assessed reimbursement of potentially 85% of childcare costs. It replaces the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit for those who would get it from HM Revenue and Customs were they not students. Childcare grant is paid according to the estimate of costs given by the student at the start of the academic year; three times a year the student provides evidence of actual costs for the last term and vacation, and this is used to reassess the entitlement. Students are entitled to 85% of actual costs subject to a cap which is dependent on whether the student has one or two or more children.

Travel Grant

Students who study abroad or attend clinical training locations as part of UK institutions’ courses can claim reimbursement of their travel costs, subject to a disregard and to income assessment. The disregard figure for 2007/08 is £290. Students studying abroad must spend at least half of any term abroad in order to be able to claim travel grant.

Disabled Students’ Allowances

Disabled Students' Allowances (DSAs) meet a student's additional costs which arise from studying with a disability. If the student is found to be eligible for DSAs, his needs are assessed and documented in a Needs Assessment Report. Depending on the results of the report, undergraduate students may receive financial help for non-medical helpers, specialist equipment, travel or other general expenses. All of these categories are capped except for travel. Post-graduate students on courses other than initial teacher training are entitled to DSAs subject to a limit of £5,780 to cover all costs irrespective of type. A student cannot receive DSAs to pay for costs to do with general living which he would have to pay if he were not a student, or for costs that able-bodied students must meet.