Is NHS Bursary/Grant classed as Public Fund?

[tallojani]

Please can you guys help....
I am a British citizen, my Pakistani wife was given her first 33 months visa from Pakistan 10 months ago. I have been working full time for a company for the last 7 years, up until now and for the next few weeks I am still employed by the same company.
My question is related to extension of visa FLR(M) which I believe we will have to apply for in Sep/Oct 2016.

The problem is that my employer is saying company is not making enough money to carry on business as usual and therefore they are making me redundant, they might carry on running the business or might shutdown completely, but either way I am being made redundant.

I have been struggling to find a job which can pay me 18700 which is my salary at present and have been for the last 15 months. Even if I work at 2 or 3 jobs I still fall short of the requirement (18600).

We have got a baby on the way, I assume my baby will be british by birth and will not require a visa with my wife.
I am considering a few options, one of which is to go back to university and do a 3 years degree in Radiography. If I was to do this I will be getting an NHS bursary which will pay off uni tution fee and will also entitles me to an NHS grant. The grant comes to a total of £9603 per annum, based on the followings:
Basic award, extra week allowance, dependants allowance, parental learning allowance, non means tested grant = 9603.

Questions to which I need answers please are:
1) Is NHS bursary (tution fee or grant) classed as public fund?
2)If the answer to the above is No, would the grant be acceptable towards meeting the financial requirements?
3) Is it correct that I need to fulfil a reduce amount of financial requirement i.e £15800 pa.
4) Can the £15800 be in the form of grant (£9603) and part time work (£6197)?
5) We mortgage the house with my brother, can we use an income from a lodger towards meeting the financial requirements.

[Obie]

Well there is no prohibition on you receiving public funds, so you are entitled to it.

In any event, NHS Bursary is not considered as Public fund.

Once the baby is born, your wife will be able to qualify under appendix FM Exception 1, so there is very little prospect of her being refused a visa in the future, even if you do not meet the financial requirement.

[tallojani]

Well there is no prohibition on you receiving public funds, so you are entitled to it.

In any event, NHS Bursary is not considered as Public fund.

Once the baby is born, your wife will be able to qualify under appendix FM Exception 1, so there is very little prospect of her being refused a visa in the future, even if you do not meet the financial requirement.

Thanks for your reply Obie