Students on full-time HNC, HND or PDA courses are supported, if eligible, by the Students Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS). Scottish students studying in Scotland no longer have to pay tuition fees, but you must still apply to SAAS to have them paid for you. If you don’t apply then you will need to pay the fees yourself. The fee level for 2010/11 will be £1,285. You should apply online at www.saas.gov.uk
You must apply for support well before the start of your course. If you are a resident of England, Wales or Northern Ireland then you must apply to your local education authority for support.
The main source of help with living expenses will be through a student loan. In general, the maximum and minimum loan amounts for students studying outside London are:
|
Rates of Loan
|
|
Minimum Loan
|
Maximum Loan
|
|
Living in parents home
|
1st Year
|
£605
|
£4,205
|
|
|
Final Year
|
£480
|
£3,740
|
|
Living elsewhere
|
1st Year
|
£915
|
£5,455
|
|
|
Final Year
|
£785
|
£4,845
|
A good way to calculate the amount of funds available to you is to visit the SAAS website www.saas.gov.uk and consult the ‘Financial Support Calculator’ on the home page. If you are under 25 years of age the amounts shown above will be assessed on your parent/guardian’s income. You must pay back your student loan but not until you have left college or university and are earning above £15,000 per year.
Some young students (under 25 years) may qualify for a Young Student Bursary. This is a non-repayable grant, given instead of part of the loan, so it reduces the amount of loan you need to take out. You may receive up to £2,640 if your family income is £19,310 or less a year. The bursary will go down to zero for a family income over £34,195 a year.
Independent Student Bursary
Some independent students (over 25 or those under 25 considered to be independent from parental support) may qualify for an Independent Student Bursary. This is a non-repayable grant, given instread of part of the loan, so it reduced the amount of loan you need to take out. You may receive up to £1,000 if your household income is £19,310 or less a year. The bursary will reduce to zero for household income over £34,195 a year.
There are grants available for some students including lone parents grant and lone parents childcare grant as well as a dependant’s grant for your husband or wife.
Full time students can apply to the college for assistance from the Higher Education Childcare Fund. The priority groups for this childcare support are lone parents and mature students. Support from the fund is discretionary, and only open to eligible students to meet the costs of formal/registered childcare. This fund is administered by the College.
You may claim travelling expenses if travel costs are necessary in connection with your course. There is a maximum amount payable to eligible students and you are required to pay the first £159 of the yearly total. You must claim your travelling expenses back after you have started your course. You can apply online at the SAAS website www.saas.gov.uk from January.
Students who incur additional expenditure whilst undertaking their course because of their disability can apply for extra support in the form of the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). Help with the cost of travel may also be provided if you incur additional transport costs as a result of your disability. Our Support for Learning section is able to provide assistance in terms of making a claim for a DSA.
Students who are experiencing particular financial difficulty can apply for assistance from the Hardship Fund. Students must have taken out their maximum student loan before being eligible to apply. Part time students can apply for childcare fromt his fund, where part time is defined as at least 50% of a full time equivalent course. Payments are assessed and are made at the discretion of the college. Guidance notes are available to explain eligibility criteria. You can contact the Student Advisory Service to obtain further information.
Other Help
Certain students such as lone parents and disabled students may be able to continue to claim welfare benefits and study full-time. Please contact your local Benefits Agency office to see if this applies to you.
Local authorities can award Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit to certain students, including lone parents, student couples with dependent children, students under 19 undertaking non-advanced courses, disabled students and part-time students.
All full-time students can claim exemption from the council tax. Forms are available from your local Housing Office.
Some educational trusts and charities give small grants for specific purposes. They may help with fees, books or equipment. A list of educational trusts is available from Student Services and the Student Advisors. Contact them for assistance in sourcing alternative funding.