PlanIT Plus - Learning Zone

Funding full time higher education

Higher education or advanced courses are courses at Higher National Certificate (HNC) level and above, for example Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Certificates in Higher Education (CertHEs), Diplomas in Higher Education (DipHEs) and Degrees.

Visit the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website at www.saas.gov.uk for detailed information on funding your course, and to apply online. You can also download a copy of the Student Support Information Guide 2008-2009 from the website.

You will apply to the SAAS for your tuition fees (if required), student loan and supplementary grants. You can track the progress of your application online.

Tuition fees

As long as you meet certain residency requirements in relation to living in Scotland the SAAS will pay your tuition fees. Find out more about the residence eligibility requirements on the SAAS website.

If you live in Scotland but go to a university in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you may have to pay up to £3,145 towards your fees. You can take out a loan to pay for the fees and pay them back after you have graduated. Apply for the loan by 31st December 2008 (if your course starts in autumn 2008).

Young Students’ Bursary

You’re a ‘young student’ if at the start of your course:

· you’re under 25

· you’re single

· you’ve not been supporting yourself financially for three years.

Students who are under 25 at the start of their course, and who have a child who is dependent on them, can also apply, regardless of their status.

The Young Students’ Bursary is a grant that you don’t have to pay back. It’s paid instead of part of your loan for living costs. How much you get depends mainly on your household income. You must be studying in Scotland to be eligible.

If your household income is less than £18,820 a year you’ll get the maximum bursary of £2,575 a year.
If your household income is over £33,330 a year you won’t be eligible for the bursary. You’ll be dependent on a student loan and a contribution from your parents.
Most people will fall somewhere in between; for example you’ll get about £2,011 if your household income is £22,000 a year.

Apply as soon as you have an unconditional place on a course – and preferably by 11 May 2008 to guarantee that you will get your first payment at the start of your first term or semester. The final closing date is 30 June 2009 for courses starting in autumn 2008. You can apply online or on a paper application form.

An additional loan of £590 is available for young students if the household income is less than £21,210 a year.

Students’ Outside Scotland Bursary (SOSB)

If you are studying outside Scotland you can apply to the SAAS for a Students’ Outside Scotland Bursary (SOSB). The level of bursary depends on your household income. The maximum bursary is £2,095 if your household income is under £18,880 a year. If your household income is more than £33,330 a year you won’t be entitled to a bursary. You can also apply for a loan. Visit the SAAS website for more information.

Student loans for living costs

A student loan helps you with the cost of living – paying for accommodation, food, books, clothes, travelling costs and all of the other things you’ll need.

How much of a loan you get depends on your and your household’s income, or both. Once the SAAS have decided how much of a loan you can apply for they pass the information on to the Student Loans Company (SLC). The SLC set up your loan account, send you a loan payment schedule and pay you in monthly instalments, usually on the 7th of each month.

For 2008-2009 the maximum loan for someone on a course within Scotland that lasts 30 weeks is:

· £3,570 if you are living in your parents' home

· £4,510 if you are living away from home.

The minimum loan is £590 if you are living in your parents’ home and £890 if you are living away from home.

The amounts are less in your final year of study.

An additional loan of £590 is available for young students if the household income is less than £21,210 a year.

If you are studying outside Scotland see the SAAS website for information.

You should apply to the SAAS as early as you can before the closing dates.

You don’t have to repay your loan until you’ve finished or left your course. You only start paying when you’re earning over £15,000 a year.

Allied Health Professions (AHPs)

You are an AHP student if you are taking a degree course in:

Chiropody or Podiatry
Dental Hygiene
Dietetics
Occupational Therapy
Orthoptics
Physiotherapy
Prosthetics and Orthotics
Radiography
Speech or Language Therapy.

Your funding arrangements are different from most students. You will get free tuition no matter where you study in the UK. You can apply for a student loan and a Scottish Government Health Department Bursary. Together they make up your ‘living-cost package’. Apply to the SAAS before the final closing dates.

You can also claim supplementary grants and allowances such as: Single Parents’ Allowance, Dependants' Allowance, Childcare Allowance for Parents and Disabled Students' Allowance. See the SAAS website for detailed information.

Health Department Bursary (HDB)

How much of a bursary you get depends on your household income. The basic bursary rates (per year) for a course that lasts for 30 weeks are:

£1,820 for students living with their parents
£2,395 for students living in a hall of residence or lodgings
£2,945 for students who undertake their course in London.

The loan available to you (regardless of income) is:

£1,695 if you are living in your parents’ home
£2,210 if you are living in a hall of residence or lodgings
£2,730 if you are living away from home and studying in London.

The loan covers 52 weeks from the day you start your course, except in your last year of study. There are special rates for your final year.

You can also claim supplementary grants and allowances such as: Single Parents’ Allowance, Dependants' Allowance, Childcare Allowance for Parents and Disabled Students' Allowance.

Nursing and Midwifery Bursary

You should apply for a nursing and midwifery student bursary (NMSB) by filling in a form NMSB1. You can get one from the SAAS or you can download a form from the SAAS website at http://www.saas.gov.uk/ (Student Support section). Apply as soon as you have a place on a course.

If you’re taking a four-year honours degree course you’ll get the full bursary rate for the first three years. In your fourth year you’ll get 75% of the bursary rate. If you're taking the three-year diploma or the two-year graduate training scheme you get the full amount for the full length of the course.

For courses starting in August 2008 you’ll get £6,411 a year.

You also get an extra Initial Expenses Allowance of £58 in your first year of study.

You can also claim supplementary grants and allowances such as: Single Parents’ Allowance, Dependants' Allowance, Childcare Allowance for Parents and Disabled Students' Allowance.

Dentistry and Medicine

You get the same support as most other students until you get into Year 5 (or above). At this stage you can claim a Health Department Bursary, supplementary grants and allowances, and free tuition. Contact the SAAS for more information.

NHS Scotland Dental Bursary Scheme

NHS Scotland National Education Services (NES) and the Scottish Government Health and Community Care Department have introduced a new Dental Bursary Scheme for students studying a Dentistry (BDS) degree at Dundee or Glasgow Universities.

The bursary is open only to students entering years 2, 3, 4 or 5 of the degree. The bursary is worth £4,000 each year, up to £16,000 for the four years.

To be eligible you have to sign up to work for NHS Scotland in dentistry for up to five years after you graduate. If you withdraw from the course or leave the Scottish NHS before the agreed period you have to repay the bursary.

The amount of bursary you get depends on the number of years you sign up for. If you sign up to work for the NHS in Scotland for the minimum period of two years you get a bursary of £4000 to cover one year of study. If you sign up to work for them for five years you get £16,000 of bursary paid over four years.

In year 5 of their course dental students from both of the above universities can claim both the Health Department Bursary and the Dental Bursary Scheme.

For more information visit the SAAS website or contact them at:
Tel: 0131 244 4519 or
Email: SAASNHSDentalBursaries@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

Supplementary grants and allowances

These are sums of money given to you if you need extra help financially because of your circumstances. You don’t have to pay them back.

For all of them (except Disabled Students’ Allowance) how much you get will depend on your financial circumstances.

Dependant’s Grant

You can claim up to £2,575 for your husband, wife, civil partner or partner. If they have any income it may affect your ability to claim.

If you have a child (or several) you can claim Child Tax Credit, whether or not you’re working. This also includes free school meals. For more information see the Inland Revenue site at www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)

This allowance is paid regardless of your income. You can claim this if you have a disability or learning difficulty and have extra expenses related to your course, such as paying for a scribe.

You can claim up to:

£1,680 a year for basic items such as extra photocopying paper
£20,000 a year for non-medical personal help
£5,030 for major pieces of equipment (this amount is for the full length of the course).

Single Parents' Allowance

You can claim £1,270 a year if you are the lone parent of a child still at school.

Childcare Allowance for Parents

You can claim up to £1,185 a year if you pay for formal childcare (such as a registered childminder) and get the Single Parents’ Allowance.

Vacation Grant for Care Leavers

Were you in care before you started your course, or when you left school? If so you can apply for up to £100 a week to help with your accommodation costs during the summer holiday. This will be paid direct to your landlord.

Travelling Expenses

You can apply for help with your travel expenses after the end of your first term. You can get a copy of the claim form from your college or university, or you can download a copy from the SAAS website.

How much you get depends on your own, your parents’ or your husband’s or wife’s income, and you have to pay the first £155 yourself. Keep your receipts, they might ask to see them.

Financial help from other sources

Hardship Funds

You can only claim this if you are finding it very difficult to cope financially, and you’ve taken out your full loan entitlement. The funds are run by individual institutions on a discretionary basis, so apply directly to your college or university. The funds are very limited. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

Childcare Funds

You can claim for help towards the cost of registered or formal childcare costs. The funds are run by individual institutions on a discretionary basis, so apply directly to your college or university. The funds are very limited. How much you get depends on your circumstances.

Tax Credits

You might be able to claim tax credits. Students with one or more children can claim Child Tax Credit whether or not they are in paid work.

If you work for more than 16 hours a week you could also be eligible for Working Tax Credit. If you have a disability or you are caring for children with a disability you might get extra support.

Contact the Working and Child Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 for more information, or have a look at the tax credits website at http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/.

You can apply online or get an application form (TC600) from your local Jobcentre Plus office. Claims are usually based on your income in the previous year.

Working while studying

Most students need to work part-time while studying. There is no limit on earnings while studying. If your total yearly earnings will be less than £5,435 ask your employer or local Pay As You Earn (PAYE) Office for a student tax exemption form - P38 (S).

Benefits

As a rule, if you are a full time student, you will not be entitled to claim any benefits, including housing benefit. However there are some exceptions, such as lone parents and students with disabilities. Contact your local Jobcentre Plus office or Benefits Agency for advice.

Useful addresses

Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS)

Gyleview House

3 Redheughs Rigg

EDINBURGH EH12 9HH

Tel: 0845 111 1711

Web: http://www.student-support-saas.gov.uk/

Student Loans Company (SLC)

100 Bothwell Street

Glasgow G2 7JD

Tel: 0845 026 2019

Web: http://www.slc.co.uk