Funding for independent students

This page outlines how you can secure independent student status for your student finance.

Students are usually assessed for student finance based on the income of their parents. Even if you live with another relative who supports you financially, such as a grandparent, Student Finance England would still expect your parents to provide their financial information.

However, you can be considered independent and not provide parental financial information if you:

• are over 25 years old
• are married or in a civil partnership
• have children
• are irreconcilably estranged from your parents
• have supported yourself financially for 3 years before your course
• have been under the care of a local authority for at least three months since your 16th birthday

You cannot apply as ‘estranged’ just because:

• your parents don’t financially support you
• you don’t get on with your parents
• you don’t live with your parents.

To be considered estranged from your parents, Student Finance England would usually expect you not to have had written or verbal contact with either parent for at least a year. However, if you’ve had contact with either parent in the last twelve months, they can still consider your application for estrangement

You can also be considered independent if you don’t know the location of your parents, or if your parents are living in a country where it would be considered dangerous to contact them.

You can also be considered independent if you can show you’ve supported yourselves financially for at least 36 months before the start of your course. These 36 months don’t have to be consecutive; each application is assessed case-by-case. You must demonstrate you’ve earned enough to maintain your own home during that period.

You are never alone at NTU. We have a dedicated team of Student Support Services advisers and practitioners who can help you at every stage of your studies.