Advice

It depends on your age- mature students are classed by the university as over 21 year olds.
to be classed as an independent student for student finance  you must be:-
·       over 25 before the start of the first day of the academic year
·       Be married or entered into a civil partnership before the start of the academic year
·       have a child under the age of 18, must prove that you are responsible for their care and that the child lives with you.
·       Can prove that you have supported yourself financially for periods of 3 years or more before the start of the academic year.

There may be other circumstances where your parents income may not be taken into account, please seek further advice.

It depends on your family circumstances as most Full -Time students don’t usually qualify for means-tested benefits. However, there are some exceptions to this rule;-

• If you are a lone parent
• Disabled student
• One of a couple who are both full-time students and are responsible for a child
• The partner of a full-time student, who meets the normal benefit criteria
• If you have been incapable of work for 28 weeks

This list is not exhaustive and studnet entitlement to benefits is a complex area, If you are unsure that you are eligible seek further advice from our Advice Centre at the HUBS.

The Union’s faciltities are open to all students from Sheffield Hallam University. Every Hallam Student is automatically a member of the Union unless you choose to opt out. Your student ID card is also your student union card.

Mature students can join any of the activities that the Hallam Union has to offer and if there isn’t one to suit you then our staff will support you to set one up yourself.

The get involved section of this site lists all the various activities that you can join.