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What's expected of parents and partners?

If you’re the parent or partner of a student, you may be expected to make a contribution towards their living costs while they’re at university or college.

How your contribution is assessed

Student Finance England (or your local authority, if they’re handling the application) will look at the information you supply in support of the student’s application. Based on your circumstances and household income, they will then decide whether you’re expected to make a contribution - and if so, how much.

The ‘income assessment’ - which determines how much help the student gets - will assume you’re making this level of contribution. So if you don’t contribute, the student is unlikely to have enough money to fund their studies.

See ‘Applying for student finance’ for more about income assessment.

• Applying for student finance

Helping a student with their finances

Households on lower incomes aren’t expected to make a financial contribution, but there are other ways you can help out.

‘Money for university' is a good place to start if you’d like to help your child find out more about the financial help available.

• Money for university: a parent's guide (parents section)

Applying for finance: what parents and partners need to do

You’ll need to provide details and evidence of your household income to ensure that the student receives all the financial they’re entitled to.

See ‘Parents and partners: supporting a student finance application’ for a guidance on what you’ll need to do, changes in your circumstances that could affect how much financial help the student is entitled to - and how to report changes in your circumstances.

• Parents and partners of students: supporting a student finance application

If the student doesn’t repay their Student Loans

The obligation to repay a Student Loan lies entirely with the student.

You’ll need to supply information about your income to support your child or partner's application for student finance, but this doesn’t make you liable for any resulting debt.

This remains the case even if the student withdraws from higher education, their earnings fail to reach the £15,000 threshold where repayments start, or if they die while still owing money.

If a student or former student passes away

If a student or former student dies, you should write to the Student Loans Company and let them know. You will also need to send them the student’s original death certificate or coroner’s report.

You should send this to:

Douglas Gould
Student Loans Company Limited
100 Bothwell Street
Glasgow
G2 7JD

The Student Loans Company will then return the death certificate or coroner’s report to you.

Get permission to discuss a student's application

Information you supply to Student Finance England about your income is private, so Student Finance England won’t share it with the student you’re supporting.

The student’s information is also private, so Student Finance England won’t give you information about their application without the student’s permission.

See ‘Applying for student finance’ to find out how the student can give permission for Student Finance England to talk to you about their student finance account - and details of how your information and that of the student is protected.

• Applying for student finance