Childcare Fund and Lone Parent Childcare Grant

Application period opens: Monday 25 August 2025
Application period closes: Sunday 19 July 2026

SAAS funded Students who have Registered Childcare can apply to the Childcare Fund. This is a fund provided by the government to assist undergraduate and most taught postgraduate students. If you are a postgraduate research student, please submit an application to the relevant discretionary fund. If you are a postgraduate student and unsure whether you are eligible, please submit a question.

Eligibility

Be a SAAS funded student
If you are an undergraduate, have taken out your full student loan entitlement
If you are a postgraduate, have taken out your full living costs student loan entitlement
Have registered childcare
If you are a lone parent with childcare in receipt of a Lone Parent Grant from SAAS, you can apply for the additional Lone Parents Childcare Grant (LPCG) through this childcare application
Childcare costs will only be met to cover the time a student is studying

Undergraduate students who are sponsored by funding bodies in England, Wales or Northern Ireland and are eligible for Childcare Grants are not eligible for this fund, however, they may apply to the Discretionary Fund if they meet that fund’s eligibility criteria.

Application restrictions

Study level

Available to students studying at:

No restrictions

Domicile for fee status

Scotland home

Schools

Available to students in the following Schools and Departments:

Art History, Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Divinity, Earth and Environmental Sciences, English, Film Studies, Geography and Sustainable Development, Graduate School, History, International Education Institute, International Relations, Mathematics and Statistics, Medicine, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology and Neuroscience, Social Anthropology, University of St Andrews Business School, International Education and Lifelong Learning Institute

Application assessment

Financial need (Hardship, means tested)

Available to

Current students

Mode of study

Full time, Part time - daytime

Geographical criteria

Scotland (UK/Home)

Additional criteria

You will be required to provide and upload supporting evidence relevant to your individual situation.

You must provide:

A copy of your most recent bank statement showing one month’s transactions, which can be an online statement but the document must show the bank's logo and your name. Excel spreadsheets are not accepted. If you have more than one account, you must provide statements from all of them. If you are not a lone parent, you must provide evidence of your partner's income, for ecample, a P60 or a recent payslip.
A written personal statement in support of your application, which should provide details of your financial situation and any exceptional circumstances leading to the application for financial assistance. All information given will be treated in the strictest confidence.
An SAAS Letter of Award, which you can download from the SAAS website after you have logged on to your online account. Please note: your Student Loan letter cannot be accepted as it does not show any bursary that you may receive.
A copy of your rent agreement
A recent utility bill
A fully completed Application for Childcare 2025-26 (Word)

How to apply

Access to the online application will be through the Scholarships and Funding Section on MySaint.

Student Services will assess all applications and allocate awards based on the information provided.

Applicants will be required to attend an interview with a Student Services Adviser. You will be contacted by email to arrange this.
Students may apply more than once during the academic year.
To receive any potential payment, you must enter your bank details via MySaint.

Additional guidance is available in our Childcare fund guidance (PDF).

If you experience difficulty at any stage of the application process please submit a question for assistance.

Find out about the support in place at the University for students who are also parents, including local options for childcare.

Terms and conditions

Declaration

The information on the online application form has been completed to the best of my knowledge. I understand that my application to the Childcare Fund will be made based on the information provided. I understand that I may be contacted to provide further information to support my application or attend an interview, or both.

I confirm that I have applied for the maximum Student Loan available to me and, as far as I am aware, I am in receipt of this amount.

I understand that, should I have intentionally provided inaccurate information, I may be subject to the University’s Student Conduct Policy. Action may be taken to recover any award made to me, and I may not be permitted to matriculate or graduate until the award is recovered. I note that I will become ineligible to receive an award if I take a Leave of Absence or withdraw from my course. I confirm that I will notify Student Services of any changes in my circumstances through the student management system.

Contact: Ask a question