Financing your studies

Full-time Funding - SAAS

Financial support for Scottish students on full-time HNC, HND and Degree courses is provided through Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). 

In order to be eligible for SAAS funding, you must be:

• A resident in the UK, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for 3 years immediately before the first day of the first academic year of the course
• Settled in the UK as described in the Immigration Act 1971
• Ordinarily resident in Scotland on the first day of the first academic year of the course
• Studying full time in higher education

The payment of your fees does not happen automatically when you accept a place on a course. You must apply to have your fees paid in each year of your course.  First time and continuing students should get their applications for funding in before the end of June 2011 in order to receive funds for the beginning of academic year 2011. SAAS will then pay your fees straight to your institution on your behalf.

How to apply

The online form is available at www.saas.gov.uk, it is necessary that you complete the online application form fully and submit any supporting evidence that is required before any funding you may be entitled to can be calculated.

Student Loan

Eligible students will be able to access a student loan to help towards general living expenses.  These loans are assessed by SAAS but are paid by the Students Loan Company (SLC).  The amount that you are entitled to will be determined by a number of factors including the income of your parents, partner or spouse.  Parental income will not be taken into account if you are aged over 25 or are classed as being an Independent Student.

Further information can be obtained by calling SAAS on 0845 111 1711 or by visiting www.saas.gov.uk

National Certificate, SVQ and GSVQ Courses

Students aged 16-17 undertaking these courses should use the Bursary/EMA application form to apply for an Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) and to have their fees for the course paid. EMAs of £30 a week are payable to new students whose household income is less than £20,351 per annum (£22,403 per annum for families with more than one dependent child.) Assistance with the costs of travel and supplies for the course may also be available from the bursary allocation.

Students aged 18 and over will be eligible to apply for bursary funding using the same application form. The amount awarded currently ranges from a maximum of £70.48 per week for a student living in the parental home to £89.07 per week for an independent or married student, or a dependent student whose parental home is not within daily travelling distance of the College.

HNC/CertHE & HND/DipHE and Degree Courses

In addition to course fees for full time students, the following financial assistance may be available:
(a) grants for adult dependants (Allowances are no longer paid for dependent children as these have been replaced by the Child Tax Credit);
(b) student loans to cover living costs while studying.

Travel and dependants’ grants are not repayable. Repayment of student loans does not begin until students have completed their course and are earning more than £15,000 per year. The amount then payable is 9% of the difference between £15,000 and their annual salary. No interest is added to the loan, so although it is inflation linked, in real terms graduates will repay the equivalent of the amount originally borrowed.

Young Students’ Bursaries – Higher Education

This bursary is available for students aged under 25, who are still dependent on parents whose income is relatively low. In session 2011-12 the maximum bursary for parental income of £19,310 or less is £2,640, reducing to £1,631 at parental income of £25,000, £744 at parental income of £30,000, and zero at incomes above £34,195.

This bursary is not repayable; students receive the remainder of their support in the form of a student loan. These amounts are based on a 30 week academic year. They may therefore be increased for courses lasting more than 30 weeks.

Independent Students’ Bursary

This bursary is available to independent students studying in Scotland who are eligible to receive their support from us. The amount available will depend on the level of your household income.  Further information can be obtained by calling SAAS on 0845 111 1711 or by visiting www.saas.gov.uk

Employer

If you are being sponsored by an employer to fund full-time or part-time studies a purchase order requisition or a supporting letter must be provided before you commence your studies.

Self-financing

If you are self-financing your studies and want further information please contact the Finance Department on 01851 77 0000 or finance@lews.uhi.ac.uk

Part-time fee grant (previously know as ILA 500)

The part-time fee grants provides up to £500 per year towards the course fees, you should be 16 or over and have an income of £22,000 a year or less.  In order to qualify you must be studying a part-time higher education or professional qualification course such as a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Degree.  You must complete 40 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credits or more an academic year.  Application forms and further information can be found on www.saas.gov.uk

ILA 200

The ILA200 provides up to £200 per year to fund a wide range of courses. To qualify for this funding, you should be 16 or over and have an income of £22,000 a year or less.  Applications for an account need to be made directly to ILA Scotland.  Further information can be obtained by calling ILA Scotland free on 0808 100 1090 or by visiting www.ilascotland.org.uk

Fee Waivers

Most students studying part-time and on distance learning courses will have to pay tuition fees.  However, it may be possible to waive your fees if you receive certain benefits, have a low income and the course you are studying qualifies.  Further information on eligibility will be available from Lews Castle College.

Additional Sources of Finance

Student Services staff at Lews Castle College administer a range of Discretionary Funds to assist students who need financial help. These include the FE and HE Discretionary Funds and the FE and HE Childcare Funds.  There is also an additional Childcare Grant for lone parents of up to £1,215 per year administered by the college.  For further information contact Student Services on 01851 770280.

Supplementary grants may be available from SAAS for further information visit www.saas.gov.uk

Please remember that the information in this section is just a guide, and because you may not be eligible for some types of funding, you should get advice about your own circumstances.  For more information or any queries contact Lews Castle College on 01851 77 0000.