DH thinking of doing a masters - childcare support?

[bedubabe]

We currently live outside of the UK and it's looking likely that we will be returning to Leeds for academic year 2013/14 because of my work. DH was intending to be a SAHD for the year but has discovered a masters he is keen on doing at Leeds uni.

We can get the money together for the fees. The issue is childcare costs for DD (will be 2). We also have a DS but he will be 3 and the costs of topping up to full time at our (to be) local pre-school are minimal.

Is DH likely to be able to get any grants to cover childcare given that I will be working (and earning c£26k a year)? Google isn't bringing up much useful information.

Really keen to make this year positive for him as well as me (plus an easier sell on a secondment with his work if he's studying).

Thanks

The childcare grant is worked out on your residual income. They only take into account your mortgage/rent payments, council tax, contents insurance, life insurance and home improvment loans to assess your need. We have approx £300 a month left after all bills/food etc and my childcare would be around £1k a month and I didn't get the grant as I have too much disposable.

In a word, no.

The only way to fund a Masters is (a) privately, (b) by taking out a Personal and Career Development Loan, or (c) having it fully funded by the University.

Fully funded Masters programmes are both rare and extremely competitive.

There may be a bursary or grant available from Leeds University, so your best bet is to check their website. These tend to be judged on academic merit rather than income, though again are very rare, and extremely unlikely to cover childcare for the year.

The likelihood though is that you'll have to find the money from some other source or use less childcare.

Unfortunately the funding situation for Masters students in the UK is pretty grim.

You cannot apply for a childcare grant for postgraduate study hermione

There's a good article about funding postgraduate study available here :)

That's a good point Winston! I've been accepted on an integrated course BA/Mhist for which you can apply for childcare.

you can't get tax credits to cover childcare either as you aren't technically working and so the hours spent do not count... likewise with housing benefit if you need to claim that (although if he goes full time you can get 25% off council tax!)