Guide
Apply for funding support to help pay for your childcare
Who is eligible for the Higher Education Childcare Fund and how to apply.
Updated on 6 June 2025
Applications for childcare funding closed on Friday 2 May 2025 and will reopen next academic year.
If you are struggling to cover the cost of childcare, the Higher Education Childcare Fund can provide support.
Our priority is to help with the costs of registered childcare during term. We contribute monthly payments directly to your childcare provider.
Who can apply
Undergraduate and postgraduate students who have:
- registered childcare costs
- received funding for a Tuition Fee Loan from SAAS this academic year
- received the maximum student loan to which you are entitled this academic year
If you are receiving the childcare element of Working Tax Credit or Universal Credit, we expect you to maximise that entitlement before considering applying for the Higher Education Childcare Fund.
Single parents
If you are a single parent and have applied to SAAS for the Lone Parent Grant (LPG), you can apply to us for the Lone Parent Childcare Grant (LPCG) of £1215 which goes towards your registered childcare costs.
Appeal a decision
You are entitled to appeal a decision made on your application for financial assistance. The process is as follows:
- Your application will be discussed at the next available Panel for Financial Aid (unless it has already been discussed at one of these meetings), and a response provided by the Panel;
- If you want to appeal the Panel decision, you will need to make an appointment to speak with the Student Funding Officer and Head of Department, Sharon Sweeney. You will need to contact our office on 01382 384801 to make an appointment.
- At this point, your application may go back to the Panel for Financial Aid for further discussion and a final decision.
- If you are not satisfied with this decision, you will meet with our Assistant Director (Wellbeing), Jonathan Staal. You will need to contact our office on 01382 384801 to make an appointment.
- You are free to make a complaint via the complaint procedure if you are still not satisfied with our decision.
How to apply
You will need to apply for assistance towards your childcare each semester.