APPLYING FOR
FUNDING FOR FULL-TIME NON ADVANCED COURSES 2005 - 2006
Please read this through carefully. If you have questions about
any of the information contact a Student Adviser in your college
Information Centre - Residents in Greater Govan can also contact
our Advisers at Money Matters
, phone 0141 445 5221 or
e-mail advice@moneymattersweb.co.uk
FEES
If you are ordinarily resident in Scotland you will not have
to pay fees. Other groups including EU students and refugees
may also be exempt from fees. Non-Scottish UK students should
apply to their local education authority for funding.
HELP WITH LIVING EXPENSES
Students who are over 16 and under 19 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 parents income. Maximum levels are
£30 per week.
All students who are over 18 can apply for support through a
college bursary. The amount will depend on your parents income
unless you are over 25 or considered self supporting or on your
spouses/partners income if you are part of a couple.
Maximum awards for living costs are:
Living
at Home
Living
Away From Home
Under 18
Parentally Supported
£25.63
- £63.88
£57.12
Self Supporting
£78.77
£80.74
STUDENTS
UNDER THE SCHOOL LEAVING AGE £80.74
Winter leavers who attend college with the permission
of school are not eligible for any support from college
until January but should fill in an application form before
October. Travel expenses
may be available from your local education department.
HELP WITH TRAVEL AND COURSE EXPENSES
All students under 18 will receive help with travel of over
1 mile and course expenses regardless of parent's 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 materials or protective clothing.
Students who are over 18 are means tested for travel and course
expenses on their parental income unless considered self supporting/over
25 or on spouses/partners income.
HELP WITH DEPENDANTS
There are additional allowances for students with adult dependants
which are only normally paid if your spouse/partner is not working.
Support for dependent children is paid by the Inland Revenue
through Child Tax Credits. Phone or call in to speak to a Student
Adviser about your particular circumstances.
HELP
WITH CHILD CARE COSTS
All students who are eligible for bursary support may also apply
for help with childcare costs including college nursery fees,
after school care, nurseries or child-minding costs.
PAYMENTS
Payments of living expenses by bursaries and travel expenses
are paid directly into students bank accounts four weekly in
advance. EMA living expenses are paid fortnightly in arrears.
Course expenses may be paid directly to the department or directly
to the student in instalments.
Childcare payments are made directly into the carer's bank account
four weekly in arrears.
All payments are conditional on satisfactory attendance and
progress
APPLYING FOR HELP
To apply for EMA, living and travel expenses complete a Bursary/EMA
application form available from the Information Centre in 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 fully 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.
APPLYING FOR HELP
To apply for EMA, living and travel expenses complete a Bursary/EMA
application form available from the Information Centre in 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 fully 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.
HOUSING FUND
Students who have their own home or live in rented accommodation
can apply for help towards housing costs. Forms are available
from the Information Centre and must be returned within 3 weeks
of the start of the course. Students who are under 19 should
apply for housing benefit instead of the Housing Fund.
HARDSHIP FUNDS
Limited funds are available for students facing severe hardship.
Each application is decided by interview. Contact the your college
Information Centre if you have financial difficulties.
BENEFITS
If you are a lone parent receiving income support, child tax
credits and housing benefit you are likely to be better off
staying on benefits and applying for a bursary to cover travel
and courses expenses only.
If you are receiving income support for other reasons or incapacity
benefit you may not be allowed to continue claiming benefits
while studying full-time. You should seek advice from or discuss
your individual circumstances with a Student Adviser before
discussing your plans with the Benefits Agency.
Unless you are a lone parent or disabled you are not entitled
to any benefits while studying full-time. The only exception
is that students under 19 on non-advanced courses can apply
for housing benefit.
COUNCIL TAX
If you are living by yourself or only 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 of 25% - apply to your local
Council Tax Office.
WORKING WHILE STUDYING
Most students need to work part-time while studying. You can
earn up to £95.66 per week before it affects your bursary.
There is no limit on earnings for students on advanced courses.
If you think your earnings will be less than £4,740 per
year (£91 per week) you can ask your employer for a student
tax exemption form P38 (S)
DEBT
If you have debts before you start college (eg bank loans, rent/council
tax arrears) you need to carefully consider if you can afford
to come to college. It may help you budget if you discuss any
concerns with a Debt Counsellor - contact your college Information
Centre for further information or Contact
Money Matters Money Advice Centre if you are a resident
in the Greater Govan area in Glasgow.
HELP AND ADVICE
You should contact your college Information Centre for information
and advice on student finance at the earliest opportunity. The
amount you can expect to receive will depend on your individual
circumstances and because there have been a lot of changes in
recent years it is essential you get an accurate assessment.
Separate leaflets on studying part-time, studying full-time
on advanced courses, hardship funds and international students
are available at your college Information Centre.
