How and when are Parent's Learning Allowance (PLA) payments made?

If you're a postgraduate course student and awarded  Parent's Learning Allowance (PLA), it will be paid termly in three instalments.

It's usually paid alongside your main bursary payments.

If your award was assessed before you have started your course, your first instalment will be paid within 10 working days of us receiving both confirmation of your course attendance and that you've been allocated a capped bursary place.

If you have applied after you have started your course your first instalment will be paid within 10 working days of the date on your Notification of Award (NOA), assuming we have already received both confirmation of your course attendance and that you've been allocated a capped bursary place.


Provisional assessment

If your entitlement to PLA was calculated using estimated income, your award will be provisional and the third instalment will remain on hold until the required income evidence is received and processed by us.

Your entitlement will be recalculated or finalised once you send evidence of the actual income received.

If the actual income is different to the estimated income, the amount of PLA you're entitled to may change.

If you've received a provisional bursary assessment your Notification of Award (NOA) will confirm what evidence we require to finalise your award.