Scottish Government

helping you meet the costs of learning

ISBN 0 7559 4507 7

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Contents

Introduction
What's on Offer?
Quick Guide
Do I Qualify?
Staying at School
Full Time
Further Education
Higher Education
Part Time
Further Education
Higher Education
Learning While You Work
Other Sources of Funding
Graduate Endowment
Benefits
Further Information

Introduction

This guide gives an overview of the funding available from August 2005 for learners or potential learners and is a useful guide to practitioners giving advice to others.

If you are thinking about starting a course, it's a good idea to plan ahead and to be aware of the costs in advance.

Whatever your age, abilities or family responsibilities, you can apply to get help as there are many sources of funding available. One or more of them may well apply to you, whether you want to:

• stay on at school;
• go to college or university;
• study full time or part time; or
• learn while you are working.

Quick guide

Do I qualify?

To be eligible to apply for some funding you must meet certain residence conditions. These are complicated, and we would advise you to contact your local college (for Further Education courses) or the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) (for Higher Education courses) if you are in any doubt about your residence status. Higher Education students should visit the SAAS website or e-mail them at saas.geu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Generally, the residence requirements are as follows:

1. You must be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the first day of the first academic year of the course.

In Further Education, this will be the start date of your course.

In Higher Education, you must be ordinarily resident on the following dates:

• 1 August 2005 for courses that start between 1 August 2005 and 31 December 2005.
• 1 January 2006 for courses that start between 1 January 2006 and 31 March 2006.
• 1 April 2006 for courses that start between 1 April 2006 and 30 June 2006.
• 1 July 2006 for courses that start between 1 July 2006 and 31 July 2006.

2. UK nationals must also have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three-year period immediately before the start of the course. Those who are EEA (European Economic Area) or Swiss migrant workers, their spouse or children, must fulfil the three-year requirement in the EEA or Switzerland.

3. If you are not a UK national, you must also be settled in the UK (as set out in the Immigration Act 1971) on the first day of the first academic year of your course.

Staying at school

If you wish to stay on at school after your school leaving date you may be eligible for an Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) which provides financial support to young people from low-income households. This can be up to £30 a week during term time.

Two bonuses of £150 may also be available if you remain on your course and make good progress.

Here is an example of how an EMA might work:

Full Time

As long as certain conditions are met, full-time students do not generally pay fees.

You may also be entitled to help with your:

• living costs (yourself and your dependant);
• help with travel, books and equipment;
• help towards childcare; and
• extra help (hardship funds).

Full-time Further Education Students

Fees

No eligible full-time student will be required to pay fees provided that certain residency requirements are met. Check with your chosen college if you are in any doubt.

Living Costs

If you are a school leaver going to college you may be eligible for an education maintenance allowance.

You could receive a non-repayable bursary of up to £80.74 per week, but this will depend on age, family circumstances and income. To be eligible for a bursary, a student must meet certain residence criteria, and the amount you may receive will depend on your household income.

The basic allowance per week is as follows:

You may also be eligible for an additional allowance to cover certain study costs such as:

• items that are essential to the course (such as essential texts but not additional reading);
• items that are required for health and safety reasons; or mandatory study trips.

If you are aged under 18, this allowance is not means-tested.

Help for Those You Support Financially

Dependants' Allowance

You may be able to apply for a Dependants' Allowance of £46.02 per week if you have financial, care or legal responsibility for an adult. This allowance is also income-assessed and family circumstances and dependants' income will be taken into account.

Childcare Costs

Colleges have a Childcare Fund which is used to help pay for registered childcare. The priority groups for childcare support are lone-parent students, mature students and part-time students, however, this does not exclude full-time students from applying. Support from this fund is additional to bursary funding, and is available to meet the costs of registered childcare only. Some colleges may offer different methods of childcare support and provision, for example, on-site nurseries, or childcare vouchers.

Help for Disabled Students

Additional Support Needs for Learning Allowance

Students who incur additional costs by virtue of their disability can apply for an Additional Support Needs for Learning Allowance. This allowance offers additional travel and study help to students with disabilities, on top of other disability grants and benefits, and is not means-tested.

Travel Costs

Students can apply for help with travel expenses which arise from attending an approved course of study, depending on eligibility criteria laid out by the college. Additional travel expenses may be available for students with dependant children, or with additional support needs. If you are under 18 this allowance is not means-tested.

Additional Help

Hardship Funds

Every college operates a Hardship Fund and students with particular financial difficulties or emergency needs can apply for assistance. Hardship Funds are specifically targeted to help students who have financial difficulties that might prevent them gaining access to Further or Higher Education, or continuing their course. Colleges have discretion to provide payments from the Hardship Funds to students who are moving from the benefit system to take a course.

Studying Outside Scotland

All the financial support described above is only available if you are studying at a Scottish College. If you want to study a Further Education (FE) course at a college outwith Scotland, you will need to contact your local authority to see what funding they can provide.

Here are some examples of help you may be able to receive:

Full-time Higher Education Students

Fees

Tuition fees, the cost of the course, have been abolished for all eligible Scottish and EU students studying a full-time Higher Education course in Scotland. The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) will pay the tuition fees for eligible students studying at publicly-funded institutions in Scotland. You must still apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees even if you are not applying for any other means of support.

Living Costs

Student Loans

The main source of help with living expenses will be through an income-assessed student loan. Income assessed means that your own 'unearned income' and your parents/spouse's income is taken into account when calculating the size of loan or bursary you might get. The maximum loan is £4,195 for students living outwith the parental home and £3,320 for those living at home. An additional loan of up to £545 will be available to young students from families with an income of up to £19,730.

Young Student Bursary

Some young students may qualify for a Young Student Bursary (a means-tested non-repayable grant) of up to £2,395 a year instead of part of the loan, so it reduces the amount of loan you need to take out. It will be available whether you live with your parents or live away from home during term time. The maximum bursary of £2,395 a year will be paid to you if your family income is under £17,500 a year. The amount of bursary will taper down to zero if your family income is around £31,000 a year.

The maximum support available for 2005/06 is:

NHS Bursary - Degrees in Allied Health Professions (AHPs)

Students on degree courses in AHPs will have different funding arrangements consisting of a Scottish Executive Health Department Bursary and loan. If you think you may be one of these students you should contact SAAS for more details.

The relevant courses are:

Dentistry and Medicine

Students on degree courses in dentistry and medicine are entitled to the same student support package as most other students in years 1 to 4. In years 5 and later, you are entitled to the Health Department Bursary. Support will then become loan and bursary.

Studying Outwith Scotland

There is a non-repayable bursary for young students who are studying Higher Education full time elsewhere in the UK. This payment is additional to your loan entitlement. You will not be eligible for this bursary if you started your course of study before 2002-03. You will get a bursary of up to £545 a year if your parents' annual income is less than £19,730.

Help for Those You Support Financially

The following are not loans and do not need to be paid back.

Adult Dependants' Grant

You can claim the income-assessed Adult Dependants' Grant for your husband or wife, if you are legally married to them. The maximum amount payable is £2,395. If you get married after the start of a course, you can claim a Dependants' Grant for your husband or wife from the date of marriage. You cannot claim Dependants' Grant if your husband or wife also receives student support.

Lone Parents Grant

There are special provisions for widowed, divorced, separated or single students bringing up children. If you have at least one dependant child, you can claim an additional grant of £1,180.

Lone Parents Childcare Grant

If you receive the Lone Parent's Grant you can get extra help of up to £1,100 per year to help pay your formal childcare costs. Frmal childcare includes childminders, after-school clubs and providers of day care and education. If your children are aged 8 or under, the childcare provider must be registered with the local authority.

Childcare Fund Support

You can also apply to your institution for assistance from the new Higher Education Childcare Fund. The priority groups for this childcare support are lone parents and mature students. Support from this fund is discretionary, administered by the institutions themselves, and is only available to meet the costs of formal/registered childcare. You should contact your university or college for more information.

Travel Costs

Students may claim travelling expenses if travel costs are necessary in connection with their course. If you are living away from home, you may claim three return journeys each session to and from your term-time residence, in addition to term-time travel to and from your institution. There is a maximum amount payable to eligible students and you are required to pay the first £155 of the yearly total. SAAS will only allow the most economical fares available for the type of transport you use. For example, if the cheapest fares are offered under the Student Railcard or Bus Pass Schemes, claims will be reimbursed at the cheapest rate plus the cost of the Student Railcard or Bus Pass.

Help for Disabled Students

Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)

Students who incur additional expenditure whilst undertaking their course because of their disability can apply for additional support in the form of the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA).

Three allowances comprise the DSA, all of which are subject to maximum amounts:

• The Basic Allowance is an annual allowance of up to £1,565 that you may claim towards general expenditure such as tapes, Braille paper, radio aids, medically-certified special dietary needs and small items of equipment.
• Special Equipment Allowance is an allowance of up to £4,680 for the purchase of major items of equipment, for example, a word processor or a portable loop. The maximum amount available is set at the time of your initial claim and the sum available is for the duration, not each year, of your course.
• Non-Medical Personal Help is an annual allowance of up to £11,840 for non-medical personal help, for example, readers for the blind, or note-takers.

Help with the cost of travel may also be provided if you incur additional transport costs as a result of your disability.

Additional Help

Hardship Funds

Students who are experiencing particular financial difficulty can apply for assistance from their institution's Hardship Funds. These funds are specifically targeted to help students who have financial difficulties that might prevent them gaining access to further or higher education, or continuing their course. Colleges and universities have discretion to provide payments from the Hardship Funds to students who are moving from the benefit system to take a course.

Vacation Grant for Care Leavers

A grant of up to £100 a week is available to help students, who were previously in care, with accommodation costs. If you were in care immediately before you started your course, or were in care when you finished your compulsory schooling, you may be eligible for this grant.

Here is an example of how the support might work:

Funding for Postgraduate Courses

Research Council Funding

Support for a postgraduate degree, such as a Masters degree, is the responsibility of the Arts and Humanities Research Board (AHRB) or one of the UK Research Councils, depending on field of study. All are independent bodies. The fact that a course lies within its remit does not oblige the Board or Council to support all, or indeed any, students applying for awards. Research Councils each have their own rules for awarding grants to postgraduate students.

Other Funding

The majority of postgraduate students self-fund although many students at this level obtain loans from banks, seek sponsorship, receive help from educational trusts or pursue their studies on a part-time basis.

Help for Disabled Postgraduate Students

If you are a postgraduate student, you may also be eligible for DSA, provided you are not being supported by a Research Council or the Scottish Social Services Council, who can provide similar support to a DSA. The amount of basic allowance and allowance for non-medical helpers will be in proportion to the time spent on the qualification. For example, if you are studying 50% of an eligible full-time higher education qualification, you will be able to claim 50% of these allowances.

Part Time

As a part-time student you can claim for some of the same support as full-time students, such as:

• childcare costs;
• hardship; and
• travel expenses.

Part-time Further Education

Fees

Most students studying part time and on distance- learning courses will have to pay tuition fees. However, if you are in receipt of means-tested benefits, on a low income, or are disabled, you may be eligible for free tuition.

If you are aged over 18 and earn £15,000 or less per year, you may qualify for one of the new Individual Learning Accounts of up to £200 each year towards the cost of certain courses. For information on the scheme visit the ILA Scotland website www.ilascotland.org.uk or phone the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090 for advice about what learning is available.

Living Costs

Bursary grants are not usually available for part-time students in Further Education, but this decision is at the college's discretion.

If both you and the course are eligible for support, but you are studying less than 21 hours per week, then the college can still consider you for an award. This award is means-tested. Any income you have including benefits will be taken into account.

If awarded a maintenance bursary, the amount given would be proportionate to the hours you attend college each week. This is calculated by:

• working out what you would be eligible to receive if you were studying full time; then
• multiplying that figure by the number of hours you attend college per week and dividing that by 21 (21 is the number of hours that define full-time study for bursary purposes).

If you are out of work and studying part time you may still qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance, as long as your course is less than 21 hours a week and you can show that you're still available for work. You may also still be able to receive Income Support. Check this with your local Jobcentre Plus office.

Help for those You Support Financially

Dependants' Allowance

The college can also use its discretion to offer part-time students support for a dependant if you have financial, care or legal responsibility for an adult. This is also income-assessed and family circumstances and dependant's income will be taken into account.

Childcare Costs

Part-time students are also one of the priority groups for childcare support. Colleges have a Childcare Fund which is used to help pay for registered childcare.

Additional Help

You may also be eligible for support towards appropriate study and travel expenses, as well as the Additional Support Needs for Learning allowance.

Part-time students may also be able to get some financial help from hardship funds.

Here's an example of the sort of help that may be available:

Part-time Higher Education

Fees

Most students studying part time and on distance-learning courses will have to pay tuition fees. However, a 'fee-waiver' scheme can provide you with fee support if you are unemployed or on a low income and are studying an HE course. For more information and eligibility details please contact your institution, college or Open University.

If you are aged over 18 and earn £15,000 or less per year you may qualify for one of the new Individual Learning Accounts of up to £200 each year towards the cost of certain courses. For information on the scheme visit the ILA Scotland website www.ilascotland.org.uk or phone the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090 for advice about what learning is available.

Living Costs

You may be eligible for a £500 student loan provided you are studying at least 50% of a full-time course. The loan is means-tested. If you are:

• a single student, your income must be less than £13,000 plus £2,000 for your eldest child and a further £1,000 for each other child;
• a married student, your income must be less than £15,000 plus £2,000 for your eldest child and a further £1,000 for each other child.

Help for Disabled Students

If you are a distance-learning student, or studying part time and the course is equivalent to at least 50% of a full-time course (HNC, HND, degree or equivalent), you may also be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) which is not income-assessed.

Additional Help

If you are experiencing particular financial difficulty you can apply for help from your institution's Hardship Funds. This can include help with childcare, housing and travel costs.

Here's an example of how the support might work:

Joe goes for an Open University degree

Learning While You Work

One way to ensure a steady flow of cash during your training is to undertake work-based learning. At the very least you'll get a training allowance, and very often you'll get a full wage at the going rate for the job you're doing. This includes:

Modern Apprenticeships

These are aimed at people of any age who want to learn while in a job and gain a qualification at S/NVQ level 3 or higher. They combine practical training with off-the-job learning and you'll get paid the going rate for the job. You won't be asked to pay anything towards your training but you will be employed for the duration of your training.

Skillseekers

The vast majority of Skillseekers are employed and, similar to Modern Apprenticeships, undertake training while studying for a qualification. All Skillseekers complete a SVQ level 2 and are usually available to people aged 16 and 17. For those that are employed you will receive the going rate for the job, for those that aren't employed you will receive a training allowance of £55 per week (SEn area) and £50 per week (HIE area).

Training for Work

If you have been unemployed for longer that six months you may be referred for a Training for Work programme. Participants receive an additional £10 allowance on top of their benefit payment (either Job Seekers Allowance or Incapacity Benefit). All training costs are provided free and you may also be helped with travel costs.

New Deal

If you are unemployed and aged 18 to 24, Jobcentre Plus offers the New Deal for Young People, to help you into employment. This New Deal can support you in a job placement with training, or in full-time education or training leading to a job-related skill. Support can include paying course fees and assisting you with the cost of books, equipment and travel. There are other New Deals to help you into employment which you may qualify for if you are aged 25 and over, aged 50 plus, if you are a lone parent or have a disability. These special programmes can help with things like childcare and disability aids. To find out more about the New Deals, contact your local Jobcentre or visit the website at www.newdeal.gov.uk

Other Sources of Funding

ILA Scotland

ILA Scotland is a new scheme that can help pay for a wide range of learning with a variety of approved learning providers. If you are aged over 18, live in Scotland and earn £15,000 or less per year or are on benefit, then you may qualify for up to £200 each year towards the cost of learning. For information on ILA Scotland and to request an application pack call the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090 or visit the website at www.ilascotland.org.uk for advice about what learning is available.

Later in 2005 those earning over £15,000 will be eligible for £100 towards the cost of various basic IT and computing qualifications.

Sponsorships/Scholarships

Many industrial organisations and some government departments have schemes (usually competitive) for supporting students. You may be able to get details of these from your local Jobcentre.

Remember that income from sponsorship, scholarships and other sources of unearned income may affect your support.

Career Development Loans (CDLs)

CDLs are deferred repayment commercial bank loans available to cover a wide range of vocational training (the skills needed for an occupation, trade or profession) or education for adults. The government supports these loans by paying the interest on the loan while the individual is undertaking their training. Loans of between £300 and £8,000 can be borrowed to support any course of learning that will help you in your career. In general, you can't use a CDL to pay for anything that is being funded by another source. So students in receipt of a mandatory grant and/or student loan are ineligible to apply for a CDL, as it should not be used to fund expenses that are already covered by other awards. Further information about this scheme can be obtained on Freephone 0800 585 505.

Graduate Endowment

The Graduate Endowment is a fixed amount that some graduates will be liable to pay after they have completed their degree. The funds raised from the Graduate Endowment are used to provide student support, including bursaries, for future generations of students.

Some graduates are exempt from making contributions. You will not be liable to pay the Endowment, for example, if you:

• are a mature student (i.e. assessed as independent);
• are a lone parent entitled to a Lone Parent's Grant during your degree;
• are a disabled student eligible for support through the Disabled Students' Allowance scheme during your degree;
• are undertaking an HNC/D course
• take less than two years to complete your degree course immediately after completing an HNC/D;
• take less than three years to complete your degree course in all other circumstances;
• take a degree course in nursing or midwifery or any degree course that attracts a Health Department bursary in each year;
• fail to meet the requirements to be accredited with a degree;
• have studied for a degree in publicly funded Higher Education before;
• study for your degree outwith Scotland; or
• study part time.

Overall, around 50% of graduates are expected to be exempt.

For students starting in session in 2004-05 the amount is £2154, and for all new liable students in 2005-06 the amount will increase by the rate of inflation.

More Information on the Graduate Endowment

Contact SAAS on 0845 111 1711 for further guidance, or visit www.saas.gov.uk

Benefits

Although most full-time students are not entitled to social security benefits, certain students in vulnerable groups, including single parents and disabled students, may be eligible. If you want to take a course of full-time education you should always ask at your local Jobcentre Plus office how this will affect your benefits.

If you are currently eligible for certain income-related benefits you may still be entitled to them when you become a part-time or distance-learning student. It is important to discuss this with your college or university student adviser as well as the local Jobcentre Plus office.

Additional assistance you receive for travel and study expenses should not affect your benefits.

Housing Benefit

This helps you with the cost of your rent if you're on a low income. You wouldn't normally qualify for this if you're a full-time student but you may be able to get this support if you're disabled or have children. Your local council will advise you and provide you with application forms.

Benefits Information

For more information contact your local Jobcentre Plus, your college or university student adviser, your local Citizens Advice Bureau or visit www.cpag.org.uk

Further Information

To find out more about the various financial help available or for answers to any queries contact:

Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)

Application forms and the SAAS guide are available on the SAAS website. If you have any questions about your eligibility or about payment of fees, bursaries, etc. you can contact SAAS at:

Student Awards Agency for Scotland
Gyleview House
3 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh EH12 9HH
tel: 0845 111
email:saas.geu@scotland.gov.uk
web:www.saas.gov.uk

Your Local College

For more information on Further Education student support please contact your local college. For a list of local colleges contact the Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education at:

The Scottish Funding Councils for Further and Higher Education
Donaldson House
97 Haymarket Terrace
Edinburgh EH12 5HD
tel: 0131 313 6500
email:info@sfc.ac.uk
web:www.sfefc.ac.uk

Learndirect Scotland

If you want to get into learning but aren't sure where to start, contact Learndirect Scotland and one of their advisers can help you choose from thousands of learning opportunities, offered by learning centres, colleges and universities in Scotland.

tel: 0808 100 9000 (freephone)
web:www.learndirectscotland.com.

Careers Scotland

Careers Scotland gives guidance to anyone in Scotland about work or learning. The aim is to increase participation in learning, employment and provide guidance. Find out more on their website, www.careers-scotland.org.uk

Inland Revenue

The Inland Revenue can be contacted on:

tel: 0845 300 3900
web:www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits

SKILL Scotland - National Bureau for Students with Disabilities

Skill's Information Service gives free information and advice to disabled people, and those working with them, about post-16 opportunities including Further and Higher Education, employment, work-based learning and volunteering. Contact their Information Service from Monday to Thursday between 1.30 and 4.30pm on:

tel: 0800 328 5050
text: 0800 0678 2422
email:admin@skillscotland.org.uk
web:www.skill.org.uk

Funding for Learners

For more information regarding this booklet contact:

The Scottish Executive
Funding for Learners Division
Europa Building
450 Argyle Street
Glasgow G2 8LG
email:studentsupport@scotland.gov.uk
web:www.scotland.gov.uk

For free copies of this booklet contact Blackwell's Bookshop on 0131 622 8283