Universal Credit for Students

Universal Credit has complex rules for students completing a course of education and over recent years the rules have become more restrictive. If you work with students who need to claim Universal Credit, this half-day course is essential.

Aims
This half-day course considers which students can claim Universal Credit and how student income affects UC awards. It goes on to look at what students may have to do whilst claiming UC and explores what happens when a course ends or is given up, as well as considering some other impacts of the way UC for students works.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course participants will:

  • Understand which students can claim Universal Credit
  • Have an awareness of how student income affects UC
  • Be able to spot when UC misses student income or takes wrong amounts into account
  • Consider the interaction of managed migration and natural migration for students on legacy benefits.
  • Understand which students have to look for work whilst claiming Universal Credit and completing a course of education
  • Understand how UC awards for students are affected during the summer holidays and at the end of the course
  • Consider some less common situations concerning students on UC and HB;
  • Be able to answer questions from students about the effect of time out of their studies on UC entitlement.

Methods of delivery
This course is delivered online live with a BTC trainer. It is a practical course delivered using a combination of trainer presentation, exercises and case studies, group discussion and games. Participants will be provided with e-learning supporting material including PowerPoint slide handouts, a comprehensive training pack pdf and additional resources. There is a 20-30 minute break halfway through each part of the course.

Intended audience
This course is for staff with a working knowledge of Universal Credit who work with students in Further Education, Higher Education or both. Participants should consider first attending our Universal Credit Overview course. This course is relevant to England and Wales only, it is not relevant to claimants in Scotland and Northern Ireland. 

Certificates & post course support
Participants will receive an e-certificate for completing this course. This also guarantees eligibility to access our free 6 months post-course advice service (including priority entry to free webinars for 6 months).

Course instructions
This online course is run over Zoom. In the week before the course, you will receive an email with Zoom link(s) and access the supporting materials. You will need to download (or print) the pack (and slides, if you wish) before each part of the course, unless you have selected a printed pack when booking.

Participants will need a good wifi connection and a suitable computer/laptop to access both the Zoom session and the pack throughout. You may wish to use a separate device for the pack (or split your screen) if you cannot or do not wish to print. We recommend participants log in a few minutes beforehand. You may also wish to have a pen and paper handy to make notes.