Individual Learning Accounts (ILAs)

If you live in Scotland, are aged 16 or over, earn £22,000 a year or less or are on benefits, you may qualify for an Individual Learning Account (ILA) to help with the costs of study.

There are two types of account (in any one year you can have only one type of account):

• £200 per year accounts to help you learn something new, or update your skills, through a wide range of courses.
• £500 per year accounts to help with costs of a part time higher education course (HNC and above). To get this you must complete 40 Scottish Qualification Framework (SCQF) credits in the year.

From academic year 2009-10 the £500 accounts can be used to fund taught postgraduate courses at SCQF 11 (Postgraduate Diploma) level. This arrangement will be reviewed at the end of the first year.

For more information visit the ILA Scotland website at http://www.ilascotland.org.uk/ or phone the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090.