Can anyone help please. My partner and I want to get onto the property ladder. I have a bursary but none of the lenders regard that as income. Has anyone experienced this problem before and if so could you offer me some advice or does anyone know a lender who would regard a bursary as income?

My friend bought a flat when her only income was her PhD bursary (this was a few years back when house prices were more reasonable!). She managed to get a mortgage relatively easily but had to have her parents as guarantors for the loan. Could this be an option for you?

I have been told that having your parents as guarantors is a way of doing it, so I agree with Ann. Also if you try to get a mortgage with your own bank, it might be easier.

My partner and I want to get onto the property ladder..........keep on dreaming

What is wrong with that Pippo? Its not a dream, its is perfectly feasible.

I went to see about this and Halifax are meant to give mortgages to PhD students so try them. Good luck!

Hi, we have just been trying to buy a house for a year so know all about it! firstly, you could try HSBC (you need to bank with them). They will consider a bursary and offer a loads of money (about 4 x joint salary)-be careful not to overstretch yourself though. Also, HSBC are very strict regarding who they will lend too, you need to have excellent bank statements etc.. pref not in the red, missed any payments or had any cheques bounce and all that.

Other than that Scottish Widows do a really good graduate mortgage and consider bursary's as an income. the alternative would be to have a parent as a guarantor but remember if you miss a payment they will be liable for the entire mortgage. They also need to be in a position to beable to pay your mortgage theoretically. so unless they are minted, they might not even be eligible. get online and get phoning around! good luck

also...these two were the only ones we found who offered mortgages to PG students AND offered 100%. If you have a deposit you might find it easier but this will usually need to be 5% of house price. I think you'll find halifax only goes up to 95%

Bank of scotland are good - they regard PhD as income, and you only need a 3% deposit.

My situation is a bit different as I'd bought a house before becoming a student and then moved - which meant a new mortgage. It was with the Abbey and they wanted guarantors. The mortgage stays in my name and the guarantor isn't troubled so long as I keep paying; however the guarantor has to show s/he would be in a position to meet the whole monthly payment. When I'm no longer a student I'll renew the mortgage without the guarantor.

scary people geting mortgages...that is scary