Will I be an independent student?

If you are an independent student your parents’ income will not be taken into account in assessing the amount of student financial support you receive but that of your spouse or partner of either sex maybe.

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you are an independent student if you meet one of the following conditions:

Are 25 or over before the start of the academic year for which you are applying.*
Have been married or entered into a civil partnership before the start of the academic year for which you are applying.
Have supported yourself from earnings or benefits for at least three years before the start of the first academic year of your course.
Your parents are no longer alive.
Have the care of a person under the age of 18 on the first day of the academic year for which you are applying.
Your parents cannot be traced.
Your parents live abroad and an assessment would put them in danger.
You are permanently estranged from your parents.
You are in the care of a local authority, or you are under a custodianship order on your 18th birthday or immediately before your course if you are not 18 when it begins.

*This does not apply to students beginning training from 1st September 2007 when they become eligible for an NHS Bursary in England or Wales. Being aged 25 will no longer be one of the conditions to determine if you are independent of your parents.

In Scotland you are an independent student if you meet one of the following conditions:

Are 25 or over before the start of the academic year for which you are applying.
You were married, entered a civil partnership or are living with a partner before the start of the academic year for which you are applying.
Have supported yourself from earnings or benefits for at least three years before the start of the first academic year of your course.
Your parents are no longer alive.
Your parents cannot be traced.
Your parents live abroad and an assessment would put them in danger.
You are in the care of a local authority, or you are under a custodianship order, on your 18th birthday or immediately before your course if you are not 18 when it begins.
You have a child dependant on you at the start of the academic year.

There are other situations where your parents may not be expected to contribute even though you are not an independent student. Check with your ELB, LA, SLC, SAAS, the NHS Student Grants Unit in England and the NHS Wales Student Award Unit if you think this might apply to you.

Your student life

Your medical school is No medical school selected You are at Year 1 of a 5 year course When not in medical school you live in England