Full-time non-advanced courses

Funding For Full-Time Non-Advanced Courses 2011-2012

Fees

If you are a UK citizen and have been ordinarily resident in Scotland for the last 3, years your fees will be paid by the Scottish Funding Council through a fee waiver.  Other groups including EU students, refugees and some young asylum seekers may also be eligible for fee waiver. Other UK students who do not normally live in Scotland should ask about fee funding.

Help With Living Expenses
Students who are under 18 at the start of the course can apply for support through an Educational Maintenance Allowance. The allowance is means tested so the amount you will receive will depend on your parent's income.

All students who are over 18 can apply for support through a college bursary. The amount will depend on your parents'/partner's income unless you are considered independent of your parents' income.

Maximum awards for living costs are:

EMA students living away from home can also receive up to an extra £35.40 per week for living expenses through a bursary.

Help With Travel And Course Expenses
All students under 18 will receive help with travel of over two miles and course expenses regardless of parents income. The level of course expenses depends on the course you are doing and is often paid directly to your department to provide you with books, materials or protective clothing.

All students who are over 18 years old are means tested for travel and course expenses on their parental income unless considered self-supporting, are over 25 years old or on spouse's/partner's income.

Help With Dependants
There are additional allowances for students responsible for the care of an adult dependant. Those with children can get help through child tax credits. Further information from hmrc.gov.uk/students

Help With Child Care Costs
All students who are eligible for bursary support may also apply for help with childcare costs including college Children's Centre fees, after school care, nurseries or child-minding costs.

Payments
Payments of living costs and travel expenses are paid directly into students bank accounts four weekly in arrears. Course expenses may be paid directly to the department or directly to the student in instalments. EMAs are paid 2 weekly.

Childcare payments are made directly into the childcare provider's bank account four weekly.

All payments are conditional on satisfactory attendance and progress.

Applying For Funding
To apply for EMA, living and travel expenses complete a Bursary/EMA application form which is available from the Information & Advice Centre usually by the end of May. If possible you should bring the completed form and all the requested documents into the Information Centre for checking. This allows us to return your documents immediately and helps prevent delays due to forms not being correctly completed.

Once completed forms are received they are normally processed within one week. At busy times it can take up to 2 weeks to process bursary application forms so apply as early as possible.

There is a separate application form for childcare costs which you should complete as soon as your Bursary has been assessed.

Help with Housing Costs

Students who have their own home or live in rented accommodation can apply for additional help towards housing costs.  Forms are available from the Information & Advice Centre and must be returned within 3 weeks of the start of the course.  Students who are under 19, or who have children or who have a disability should apply for housing benefit instead of the Housing Fund.

Hardship Funds
Limited funds are available for students facing severe hardship. The conditions and procedure for applying for these are available from the Information Centre. Contact the Information Centre if you have financial difficulties.

If you are a lone parent receiving income support, child tax credits and housing benefit you will normally remain on benefits and a bursary to cover travel and courses expenses only will be awarded.  If you are receiving Income Support for other reasons or Employment & Support Allowance you may not be allowed to continue claiming benefits while studying full-time.

Council Tax
If you are living by yourself or with other full-time students you will not be liable for council tax. You should apply for exemption on a form available from the Information Centre or local Council Tax Office. If you live with non-students you may be eligible for a discount.

Working While Studying
Most students need to work part-time while studying. There is no limit on earnings for students. If you think your earnings will be less than £6,030 per year (about £115 per week) you can ask your employer for a student tax exemption form P38 (S).