EEA family member visa expiring soon

hello, i have a problem with my EEA visa wich is expiring in march 2008
i need to re-new or to get the UK nationality,
i have been married to a spanish and living in the UK since 03/03/2002 with family permit.
But the problems is that i have been outside uk in spain for one year
(this was three years ago), and travelling for months around the world.
Now my husband and i are studing in the university for the last three years and getting student grants,
i dont know if :
> i can apply for the nationality or i need to wait two more years
> if getting student grants affects my status
> or if i need to get extension of my EEA family permit.

i am very confused please help