This topic contains the following:
You may also want to look at the related topics.
Can I get higher education funding in Scotland?
If you normally live in Scotland, regardless of where you’re studying in the UK, you may be eligible for funding from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) – a Scottish Government agency. To get the funding, you and your course must be eligible for it. For more details, see Can I get higher education funding in the UK?
The package of full-time undergraduate support summarised below is also available to students taking some postgraduate qualifications:
- Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
- Maths Tripos (Part III) at Cambridge University
- some postgraduate architecture diplomas (for more details, see architecture courses).
For more information, see Postgraduate courses which qualify for support at undergraduate level.
However, if you’re taking an undergraduate course that requires a degree to enter (eg in medicine, veterinary medicine) you can only get a student loan for living costs and supplementary grants each year. See Support for graduate entry courses.
Where can I study?
Funding from SAAS is available if you’re undertaking a course at a university or college in Scotland, England, Wales or Northern Ireland, or at a publicly funded university or college in the Republic of Ireland (for more information, see SAAS’s details about course eligibility).
If you study in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, you get different funding to what’s available if you study in Scotland. For students starting on or after 1 September 2012 who get their funding in Scotland, UK universities and colleges outside Scotland charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year, and institutions in the Republic of Ireland may charge more.
If you’re taking a course at a UK or Republic of Ireland institution that includes a placement year during which you study outside the UK, you still get funding from SAAS for the year abroad.
However, if you want to take your entire course at a university or college outside the UK or Republic of Ireland, you can’t get the funding outlined here. See I want to study outside the UK – what higher education funding can I get?
I’m studying in Scotland – what government support can I get?
If you’re studying at a university or college in Scotland, you can get the following support from SAAS. SAAS is introducing a new funding structure for the 2013/2014 academic year, which affects new and continuing students. These figures are for 2013/2014 (if you want information on the current system contact SAAS or your university, college or students’ association advice centre):
- Tuition fee grant: each year SAAS pays the entire cost of your course fees. The money is paid directly to your university or college, and you don’t need to pay it back.
- Student Loan: each year you can get a loan to cover living costs (eg accommodation, food, books). The amount you can borrow depends on your household income (your parents’ or partner’s income plus yours). The money is paid directly into your bank account, and you must pay it back when you’ve finished your course and you’re earning enough. From the start of the 2013/2014 academic year you can borrow up to £4,500 regardless of your household income, and up to £5,500 if you’re eligible to get a Young Students’ Bursary and your household income is £16,999 a year or less. If you’re eligible to get an Independent Students’ Bursary you can borrow up to £6,500 if your income is £16,999 a year or less. You can borrow up to £7,725 if you spend a year of your UK course studying abroad – the amount you can borrow depends on the country in which you’re studying for that year.
- Young Students’ Bursary: you can get a grant each year to help with your living costs, which you don’t have to pay back. The money is paid directly into your bank account. You’re eligible for this if you’re under 25 years old at the start of your course and meet some other eligibility criteria. The amount you can get depends on your household income, and the higher your grant, the less Student Loan you can borrow. From the start of the 2013/2014 academic year the maximum bursary is £1,750, but if your income is £34,000 a year or more you don’t get anything. The criteria for getting this bursary are quite complicated – here’s SAAS’s information for 2012/2013.
- Independent Students' Bursary: depending on your circumstances, you can get a grant each year to help with your living costs instead of the Young Students’ Bursary. The money is paid directly into your bank account and you don’t need to pay it back. You’re eligible for the Independent Students’ Bursary if you’re 25 years old or older at the start of your course and meet some other eligibility criteria. The amount you can get depends on your household income (your partner’s income plus yours), and the higher your grant, the less Student Loan you can borrow. From the start of the 2013/2014 academic year the maximum bursary is £750, but if your household income is £34,000 a year or more you don’t get anything. The criteria for getting this bursary are quite complicated – here’s SAAS’s information for 2012/2013.
- Travel and insurance expenses: if you study abroad as part of your UK course, you can claim the costs of your journey abroad and your medical insurance.
Here’s SAAS’s information on student finance for 2012/2013 and their funding guide for 2013/2014. Also, have a look at How and when do I repay my student loan?
I’m studying elsewhere in the UK or in the Republic of Ireland – what government support can I get?
If you’re studying at a university or college in England, Wales, Northern Ireland or the Republic of Ireland, you can get the following support from SAAS. SAAS is introducing a new funding structure for the 2013/2014 academic year, which affects new and continuing students. These figures are for 2013/2014 (if you want information on the current system contact SAAS or your university, college or students’ association advice centre):
- Tuition fee loan: each year you can borrow the cost of your course fees, up to £9,000 a year. The money is paid directly to your university or college, and you must pay back the loan when you’ve finished your course and you’re earning enough.
- Student Loan: each year you can get a loan to cover living costs (eg accommodation, food, books). The amount you can borrow depends on your household income (your parents’ or partner’s income plus yours). The money is paid directly into your bank account, and you must pay it back when you’ve finished your course and you’re earning enough. From the start of the 2013/2014 academic year you can borrow up to £4,500 regardless of your household income, and £5,500 if you’re eligible to get a Young Students’ Bursary and your household income is £16,999 a year or less. If you’re eligible to get an Independent Students’ Bursary you can borrow up to £6,500 if your income is £16,999 a year or less. You can borrow up to £7,725 if you spend a year of your UK course studying abroad – the amount you can borrow depends on the country in which you’re studying for that year.
- Young Students’ Bursary: from the start of the 2013/2014 academic year you can get a grant each year to help with your living costs, which you don’t have to pay back. The money is paid directly into your bank account. You’re eligible for this if you’re under 25 years old at the start of your course and meet some other eligibility criteria. The amount you can get depends on your household income (your parents’ or partner’s income plus yours), and the higher your grant, the less Student Loan you can borrow. The maximum bursary is £1,750, but if your household income is £34,000 a year or more you don’t get anything.
- Independent Students' Bursary: from the start of the 2013/2014 academic year, depending on your circumstances you can get a grant each year to help with your living costs instead of the Young Students’ Bursary. The money is paid directly into your bank account and you don’t need to pay it back. You’re eligible for the Independent Students’ Bursary if you’re 25 years old or older at the start of your course and meet some other eligibility criteria. The amount you can get depends on your household income (your partner’s income plus yours), and the higher your grant, the less Student Loan you can borrow. The maximum bursary is £750, but if your household income is £34,000 a year or more you don’t get anything.
- Travel and insurance expenses: if you study abroad as part of your UK course, you can claim the costs of your journey abroad and your medical insurance.
Here’s SAAS’s information on student finance for 2012/2013 and their funding guide for 2013/2014. Also, have a look at How and when do I repay my student loan?
What happens about funding if I change course, need an extra year or leave my course?
If you take time out from your studies, change your course or need an extra year, you should still be able to get funding, depending on your circumstances.For more information, see:
What other government support is available?
As well as the standard packages of government support outlined above, lots of other funding options are available, depending on your circumstances and the kind of course you’re taking. Find out more here:
How do I apply for government funding?
You apply for funding through SAAS. For more information, see How do I apply for higher education funding in Scotland?
Where else can I get funding?
As well as government funding, you may be able to get funding from your academic institution, charities or other sources. To find out more, see Can I get higher education funding from my university or college? and other sources of funding.
Related topics
What higher education funding is available in Scotland?
I’ve already got a UK honours degree – can I get funding for more higher education?
I’ve undertaken a higher education course before – can I get funding again?
This information was updated in March 2013. NUS provides this information in good faith and has taken care to make sure it’s accurate. However, student finance issues can be complicated, and rules change frequently. You should contact the advice centre in your students' union, college or university for support if you’re uncertain or need more help.