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The information given in this section is for further
Education students in Scotland. The information is as accurate
and up to date as possible, however, it is only intended for
guidance only. All students are responsible for checking their
entitlement to funds with the relevant authorities based on
their individual circumstances.
STUDENT FINANCE 2005 / 2006 NON-ADVANCED
COURSES |
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
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£78.77 |
£80.74
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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.
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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.
| USEFUL
CONTACTS |
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Budgeting, debt management and benefits advice
MONEY MATTERS
986/988 Govan Road
Glasgow G51 3DU
Tel: 0141 445 5221
Web Site: www.monevmattersweb.co.uk
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FUNDING FOR FULL-TIME ADVANCED
COURSES 2005 / 2006
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR FUNDING?
You must be studying full-time on an advanced course (HNC,
HND, Advanced Diploma). You must have been living in the UK
and Islands for the last 3 years and in Scotland on 1 August
to be eligible for funding from SAAS (Student Awards Agency
for Scotland). EU students are treated as home students. Non-Scottish
UK students should apply to their local education authority
for funding.
WILL I HAVE TO PAY FEES?
All students studying on advanced courses in Scotland who
are eligible will have their fees paid in full by SAAS regardless
of parents/spouses income. Fees for courses outwith Scotland
are means tested.
Previous funding for advanced level study will affect your
entitlement to funding for fees, check with the Information
Centre or SAAS.
HOW DO I APPLY FOR FUNDING?
You should apply on-line at www.saas.qov.uk
for help with fees, grant support and student loans. Forms
are also available from any college, university or careers
office after Easter or can be downloaded from the SAAS website.
This form should be completed and returned to SAAS with other
documentation as soon as possible after receiving an offer
of a place on a course. UK students whose home is outwith
Scotland should apply to their local education authority.
Once this is processed fees will be paid directly to college
and you will be notified of your entitlement to grant/loan
funding. The funds are paid in three instalments directly
into your bank account at the start of your course, in January
and after spring holiday.
HOW
MUCH STUDENT LOAN WILL I GET?
You will be entitled to a maximum student loan of:
| |
Living
at home |
Living
away from home |
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| Amount per year |
£3,620 |
£4,645 |
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| Final year |
£3,200 |
£4,095 |
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| The minimum loan payable is: |
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| Amount per year |
£545 |
£830 |
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| Final year |
£440 |
£710 |
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All amounts above are based on a 36 week college year which
is usually longer than a university year.
HOW ARE LOANS REPAID?
Once your earnings reach £15,000 you will start to repay
your loan through income tax.
CAN I GET ADDITIONAL HELP IF I HAVE DEPENDANTS?
If you have an adult dependent you can claim an allowance
of £2,395 payable as a grant in addition to the loan
entitlement for yourself. If you are a lone parent you can
also claim an additional allowance of £1,180. Allowances
are also paid in three instalments.
You can claim for dependent children through Child Tax Credits
from the I nland Revenue.
CAN I CLAIM TRAVEL EXPENSES?
An amount of £155 per year is included in your loan
so you can only claim additional expenses for daily travel
to college (and 3 return journeys home if applicable) over
this amount. You can apply on-line for travel expenses from
January and they are paid into your bank account within 28
days.
CAN I GET ADDITIONAL HELP IF I HAVE A DISABILITY?
Funds are available as a non-means tested grant to cover additional
expenditure because of disability. Further information on
what can be claimed and how to apply should be obtained from
your college.
WHAT OTHER FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE?
YOUNG PERSONS
BURSARY
This is a non-repayable grant for young students. It is paid
instead of part of the loan, so it reduces the amount of loan
you have to take out. If your total parental gross income
total is less then £17,500 you will get £2,395
bursary and if the total is less than £31,000 then you
would qualify for some help. Students entitled to a Young
Persons Bursary will also be eligible for an additional loan
of £545 if the family income is less than £16,590
Application is made on the SAAS form.
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 with evidence
of rent or mortgage within 3 weeks of the start of the course.
THE HARDSHIP FUNDS
Limited funds are available for students facing severe hardship.
Each application is decided by interviewing the individual.
Contact the Information Centre if you have financial difficulties.
CAN I GET HELP WITH CHILDCARE COSTS?
All lone parents are entitled to up to £1,100 for childcare
costs and should apply on their SAAS application form. Students
may also receive help through the college Child Care Fund
which is part of the HE Hardship Funds. Application forms
are available from the Information Centre.
BENEFITS
Students on HE courses are not normally entitled to receive
benefits while studying full-time. Lone parents must apply
for funding through SAAS/Students Loans. Further information
on benefits may be obtained from 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
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 a non-student
you are 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. There
is no limit on how much you can earn and it does not affect
your loan/grant entitlement. 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 P389
(S).
HELP AND ADVICE
You should contact the 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 non-advanced courses, hardship funds and international
students are available from your college Information Centre.
Updated information is available also on the Cardonald college
website in the section 'Answers to all your Questions' at:
http://www.cardonald.ac.uk/website/guidance.asp
| USEFUL
CONTACTS |
STUDENT AWARDS AGENCY
FOR SCOTLAND
Gyleview House
3 Redheughs Rigg
Edinburgh EH12 9YT
Tel: 0131 476 8212 (general enquiries)
Web Site: www.saas.qov.uk
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STUDENT LOANS COMPANY
100 Bothwell Street
Glasgow G2 7JD
Tel: FREEPHONE 0800 405010
Web Site: www.slc.co.uk
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For
further help and advice on Budgeting, debt management and
benefits contact:
| Money Matters Money Advice
Centre |
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| 986/988 Govan Road |
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| Glasgow G51 3DU |
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| Scotland (UK) |
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| Phone: |
0141 445 5221 |
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| Fax: |
0141 445 5217 |
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| E-mail |
advice@moneymattersweb.co.uk |
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