Learners in Scotland have the option of undertaking a wide range of learning including further or higher education. The course chosen will determine the type and level of funding available.
Further Education is courses which are not taught in a school and are below Higher National Certificate (HNC) level. They cover levels 1-6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and include:
- academic courses up to Higher level;
- courses that do not lead to formal qualifications (such as independent living skills courses);
- basic skills courses, such as literacy and numeracy; and
- work-related courses, such as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
Learner may be able to get support for Further Education (in the form of a grant) by having an assessment, but not everyone who applies is eligible for a grant.
Higher Education is courses of study which are at Higher National Certificate level or above (that is Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 7 or above).
They can be taken at college or at university and include:
- an undergraduate honours degree;
- an undergraduate ordinary degree; or
- a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND)
Financial support for Higher Education usually comes as a loan, with a number of means-tested grants (grants based on your income) for specific groups of students.
TheScottish Government's Learner Support Plan (2008-2012) sets out the vision for learner support.