Funding for Scottish Students

Funding for students from Scotland is administered by an agency of the Scottish Government known as SAAS (Student Awards Agency Scotland). SAAS operate an online application process and the SAAS website has a lot of really useful information about how they work out your entitlement and how you apply for it. Applications typically open in April and we recommend applying early to ensure your funding is ready for you starting your course, and you have time to resolve any unexpected issues that may arise.

The package of student funding that you are eligible for is the Scottish Governments contribution to your study and living costs each academic year. It is up to you to you to manage your budget effectively to meet your outgoings. We have a range of money advice, as well as additional funding to help top up the student funding receive you receive from SAAS. Scroll to the bottom of this webpage for further details.

Student funding packages are made up of support for tuition fees and support for living costs in the form of a bursary and/or a student loan. You must apply to SAAS every year for funding, even if you just want tuition fee support. Support for living costs is income assessed, which means your household income is used to work out what you get.

Students are usually only eligible for claim support from SAAS once at each level of undergraduate studies, with an extra year of funding available in case of emergencies or a change of plans. You can find out more about this in the section below, titled ‘Repeating a period of study’.

Tuition Fees

While it is true that Scottish students do not pay tuition fees, it's not true that tuition is free. It currently costs £1,820 per year for Scottish students to study a degree in Scotland. The cost of tuition for eligible Scottish students is met by SAAS each year, and it is your responsibility to meet the cost of tuition if you are not eligible for this from SAAS.

This support is not income assessed, which means your household income will not impact eligibility.

Bursary

There are 2 main types of bursary – Young Student Bursary and Independent Student Bursary. The one you can apply for depends on your age and circumstances. Generally, students under 25 claim the Young Student Bursary and are income assessed using their parents’ income. Those over 25, married, or with children, will claim the Independent Student Bursary and are income assessed using their own income and that of any spouse or partner.

This is the part of your student package that you don’t have to repay. 

Find out more on the SAAS website.

Living Cost Grants

There are also some additional living cost grants available to certain types students, such as lone parents. Like the bursary, these would also be a part of your student package that you don’t have to repay. 

You can find out more on the SAAS website.

Student Loan

Student loans are available on top of bursaries and are the largest element of your student support package. Similarly to the Bursary, this element is income assessed, so how much you can get depends on your circumstances. As a Scottish student, you apply to SAAS who assess how much of a student loan you are entitled to. SAAS then instruct the Student Loan Company (SLC) to pay this to you, but you do not apply directly to SLC.

Find out more on the SAAS website.

You do not have to take out the student loan or can elect to take out only a proportion of what you are offered. The student loan is repayable and does accrue interest, but it is much cheaper than other types of finance such as bank loans, overdrafts or credit cards.

Find out more about how the Student Loan works.

Care Experienced Bursary

If you have been looked after by a Local Authority in the UK, you may be eligible to receive the Care Experienced Students Bursary instead of the bursary and loan support detailed above. The Care Experienced Students Bursary is worth £9,000 and is not income assessed, so the level of your household income does not impact this.

If you are eligible for the Care Experienced Students Bursary, you can also claim £2,400 in the form of a special support loan. You apply for this through SAAS, alongside applying for your tuition fee support and care experienced bursary. You do not have to take out the student loan or can elect to take out only a proportion of what you are offered. If you want to understand more about how the Student Loan works, click on the link in the section above.

Find out more about the Care Experienced package of support on the SAAS website.

Estranged Students

If you are under 25 but no longer have any contact with your parents or legal guardian due to a permanent breakdown in your relationship, you can report this to SAAS and be considered as an estranged student. This means they will not use your parents or legal guardian income to income assess you for support. You would instead be eligible for the Estranged Student Bursary of £1,000, plus a student loan of £10,400. 

You do not have to take out the student loan or can elect to take out only a proportion of what you are offered. If you want to understand more about how the Student Loan works, click on the link in the section above.

Find out more about the Estranged Student package of support on the SAAS website.

PAYMENT OF YOUR STUDENT FUNDING

As long as you are not on a one-year course, or in the final year of your studies, you must choose if you want your package of living cost support (bursary and loan) paid during term-time only, or if you want to spread this over the full year. We must stress that the total amount of support will not change, you simply decide how this is divided up.

It’s important to think about the full year ahead when making your decision as you cannot change your mind part-way through a year. Inevitably there will be pros and cons to each option and your individual circumstances will impact which option is best for you.

• Term-time only payments will be larger monthly instalments, but you will not receive any payments during the summer break.
• Year-round payments will provide a consistent and reliable source of income every month, including summer, but the instalments will be smaller.

If you are a student who is eligible to apply for Universal Credits during your studies, such as a lone parent, you will need to consider how your decision in relation to your student funding payments impacts your Universal Credits. Visit our Benefits webpage for details, including some example figures that should help you understand how to choose the best payment option for your student funding, as well as better understand the benefit amount you might be eligible for.

Despite it being a postgraduate level course, PGDE students continue to be funded through the undergraduate funding system. 

If you have received SAAS funding previously to undertake an undergraduate course, you will generally still be able to receive the full package of funding to undertake the PGDE. However, if you have already received funding to undertake a postgraduate course, you may not be eligible for further funds. 

If you are unsure about your eligibility for funding as a result of previous study, please contact Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) directly for clarity. Depending on the teaching subject area, you may be eligible for a concession, which opens the doors to the full package of SAAS funding.

To find out more about the funding you may be entitled to, and how to apply, read the section above titled Student Awards Agency Scotland.

The Teaching Bursary Scheme

The Teaching Bursary Scheme is open to individuals wishing to undertake a one-year PGDE ITE course in Scotland that leads to the award of registered teacher status in Scotland's hardest-to-fill teaching subjects. Keep an eye on the government website for details.

A £20,000 bursary is available from the Scottish Government to career-changers undertaking a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programme in Scotland in STEM subjects and Modern Languages.

Subjects available at UWS:

• Chemistry
• Maths
• Physics
• Modern Languages (German, French, Spanish)

If you are studying a Graduate Apprenticeship in Scotland, you must apply to Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for Tuition Fee support. SAAS will pay this to the University on your behalf. You do not have to repay this tuition fee support, but you must remember to apply for this in each year of study.

If you leave your course early you may no longer be eligible for this tuition fee support. In the event that a tuition fee charge still applies, you will then be responsible for meeting this cost yourself.

Previous funding received for a higher education course usually impacts the funding you are eligible for, but you may still get funding to study a Graduate Apprenticeship. If you are unsure, contact SAAS for clarity.

Find out more about Graduate Apprenticeships from the SAAS website, including full eligibility details, and guidance on how to apply.

*Students who started a Graduate Apprenticeship before the 2021/22 academic session do not need to apply to SAAS for funding.

Graduate Apprentice students are not eligible for any living cost support from SAAS. This is due to the nature of the course requiring students to be in paid employment throughout. You may wish to discuss study expenses with your employer. While not obligated to do so, some employers may offer some financial support with the costs of books, course materials, etc.

As you will understand from reading the information above, SAAS normally only provide support once at each level of study, with an extra year of funding available in case of emergencies or circumstances that result in you repeating the same level of study.

In this section we will explain more about the funding available when you need to repeat a period of study. 

+1

If things have not gone to plan, you may be able to claim an additional year of funding, known as the +1. You may have started a course previously and found it wasn't for you, or may have not completed a year of study that you now need to come back and repeat. Whatever the reason, there is a +1 rule that would allow you to receive the full package of student support, as long as you hadn’t progressed beyond this level, or used this extra funding previously. 

For example, a student cannot complete Year 3 of their degree due to a period of ill health. They come back the next year to do Year 3 again. Because this is repeating the same level of study, the package of student funding for their second Year 3 is considered their +1. 

The +1 cannot be used to go back to lower levels of study, so in the example above, the student would not be able to access the +1 package of student funding if they, for some reason, decided to move back to Year 2.

It’s really important not to rely on this funding without doing your research, so please contact SAAS directly if you need any help identifying whether your +1 remains available to you. If you have already used your +1, you may find that you have a gap in student funding until you are able to move on to the next year of your course.

You will need to carefully consider how you will meet the cost of tuition and your living costs, and can find out more about your funding options in our repeat year funding guidance (PDF).

Articulating from College to University

If you are making the transition from an HNC or HND at college, the level at which you enter the university may have an impact on your funding. In basic terms, an HNC is equivalent to Year 1 of a degree programme while an HND is equivalent to Year 2.

While SAAS normally would not fund study at the same level twice, i.e. an HNC and then Year 1 of a degree, there are special rules in place for students making this transition. This would allow you to receive the full package of student support, as long as you hadn’t progressed beyond this level, or used this extra funding previously. 

It’s really important not to rely on this funding without doing your research, so please contact SAAS directly if you need any help identifying whether student funding remains available to you. If you have already used your +1, you may find that you have a gap in student funding until you are able to move on to the next year of your course.

Care-Experienced Students

If you are someone who meets the SAAS definition of Care Experience, the package of support available to you uniquely offers additional flexibility and generally has 2 additional years of funding eligibility, rather than the normal +1.

It’s really important not to rely on this funding without doing your research, so please contact SAAS directly if you need any help identifying whether student funding remains available to you. If you have already used your additional years of support, you may find that you have a gap in student funding until you are able to move on to the next year of your course and it will be your responsibility to consider how you will meet both the cost of tuition and support your living costs during this time.

The Carnegie Trust administers a number of different schemes to different types of students, including the Undergraduate Tuition Fee Grant Scheme. This scheme can be an excellent source of funding for tuition support if you have exhausted your entitlement to SAAS support.

Generally, applicants need to be Scottish by birth or descent, or have attended a secondary school in Scotland for at least 2 years, and undertaking their first degree. The Trust have a very efficient application process and can be contacted directly if you are unsure about your eligibility.

Applications tend to open in March, prior to your course start date, and remain open until the end of November, but it is always best to apply early.

Find out more on the Carnegie Trust website

There are lots of alternative sources of funding, like charities and trusts, that can help finance your studies. These can include grants that can pay tuition fees, living cost support and funding for research expenses so this can be a good avenue to explore whether you have been unable to get funding through the above sources, or are simply looking to top this up.

When searching for additional financial support, it is important to understand that this can take up a lot of time. While there is no guarantee that you will find a source of funds for you, you definitely won’t find anything if you don’t try.

This type of funding can vary from small amounts, such as £200, to larger amounts that might cover your full tuition fee for a year. Most students who achieve success with these types of funds do so because they continually research and apply to everything they can. Numerous grants of £200 can really add up.

It’s also important to remember that most of these funds are competitive, similar to applying for a job. Many people might apply, but there may be only one award available. As such, it is important that you spend time on any application. Carefully follow any guidance notes and make sure your application will stand out in a crowd.

The best place to start exploring this avenue is through our Alternative Trusts and Scholarships webpage. Click on the link and you will find a lot of resources to help get you started. Just remember, we can’t possibly include every fund on our webpage, so don’t limit yourself to this page alone.

It's important to remember that you are responsible for meeting the cost of tuition throughout your studies. If for any reason this is not being paid on your behalf by SAAS, you will be classed as a self-funded student and will be expected to meet this cost yourself.

If you are self-funding, we encourage you to think of the tuition fees as another expense you are committing to and think carefully about how affordable this is for you for the duration of your studies. Planning ahead is key, as the more time you give yourself to save money, the better. 

Plan ahead by visiting our Budgeting and Planning web pages.

In most cases, you will be able to spread the cost over the academic year (usually up until April), but that is still an additional monthly expense that you should plan and budget for. You will also be required to pay a deposit at the point you enrol, and enrolment will not be completed until this is done. It’s also important to remember that the University extends you a courtesy by allowing you to pay in instalments. If you do not make payments as planned, we may no longer be able to extend this courtesy.

Check out Student the Finance FAQs for more information. 

UWS offer a range of courses that are designed for individuals to undertake as part of their professional development, and with the support of an employer, such as the NHS.

Where a course requires a student to work in a relevant role as part of their studies, and therefore continue to be employed throughout studies, students are generally not eligible for student funding. This is because your salary will be your form of income. However, the rules can be complex, so it is always best to ask for advice if you are unsure.

In some cases, an employer may meet the cost of tuition. 

Where this is a Graduate Apprenticeship, please see the specific section above.

If you are a member of the Armed Forces, you may be eligible to apply for financial support for studies through the MODs Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme. Many of the courses available at UWS are registered as part of this scheme, which could provide some financial support towards the cost of tuition, should you not be eligible for SAAS or Carnegie Trusts, who in most cases can cover the full amount.

Find our more on the Enhanced Learning Credits website

It's important to understand that becoming a full-time student will impact any benefits you might be receiving, such as Universal Credit.

Your status as a student might mean you are no longer eligible to claim benefits. If you are still eligible to claim, your student funding will be taken into account for any benefit calculations, which may reduce the amount you receive during your studies. In some cases, you may not receive any benefits at all, so it is important to plan ahead and budget with this in mind.

Visit our Benefits page for more information, but we also recommend getting specialist benefits advice before you start your course. You can get this from organisations like Citizens Advice, or advice centres in your local area.

Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) administer a Part-Time Fee Grant, which is a great scheme to help meet the tuition costs of part time study.

To qualify for this support, you must meet the SAAS residency conditions, have an individual income of £25,000 a year or less, including bonuses and overtime, and be undertaking between 30 and 119 credits in each year of study.

The level of funding you can get will depend on the number of credits you do and is awarded on a pro-rata basis, using the full-time tuition fee rate as a base. Full-time students will study 120 credits per year with tuition fees costing £1,820. If you were to study 60 credits, which is half the amount of a full-time student, you would receive half of £1,820, so £910.

The SAAS website has more information about the Part Time Fee Grant. You can also apply online for this grant, and can create and access your online SAAS account via this website. 

Many students undertake part-time studies as part of their professional development. It would certainly depend on the type of work you do and company you work for, but some organisations and businesses will have funding to support staff development.

Talk to your employer about the support they may be able to provide, especially where you may not be eligible for support from SAAS. 

Part-time study can be incredibly flexible, which makes it an ideal route for students who are self-funding. By approaching a course in a bite sized way, you could study what you were able to afford.

When you are self-funding, we encourage you to think of the tuition fees as another expense you are committing to. Think carefully about how affordable this is for you for the duration of your studies. Planning ahead is key, as the more time you give yourself to save money, the better. 

Plan ahead by visiting our Budgeting and Planning web pages.

In most cases, you will be able to spread the cost over the academic year (usually up until April). However, that's still an additional monthly expense that you should plan and budget for. You will also be required to pay a deposit at the point you enrol (equivalent to the cost of one module). Enrolment will not be completed until this is done. It’s also important to remember that the University extends you a courtesy by allowing you to pay in instalments. If you do not make payments as planned, we may no longer be able to extend this courtesy.

Check out Student the Finance FAQs for more information. 

There are lots of alternative sources of funding, like charities and trusts, that can help finance your studies. These can include grants that can pay tuition fees, living cost support and funding for research expenses so this can be a good avenue to explore whether you have been unable to get funding through the above sources, or are simply looking to top this up.

When searching for additional financial support, it is important to understand that this can take up a lot of time. While there is no guarantee that you will find a source of funds for you, you definitely won’t find anything if you don’t try.

This type of funding can vary from small amounts, such as £200, to larger amounts that might cover your full tuition fee for a year. Most students who achieve success with these types of funds do so because they continually research and apply to everything they can. Numerous grants of £200 can really add up.

It’s also important to remember that most of these funds are competitive, similar to applying for a job. Many people might apply, but there may be only one award available. As such, it is important that you spend time on any application. Carefully follow any guidance notes and make sure your application will stand out in a crowd.

The best place to start exploring this avenue is through our Alternative Trusts and Scholarships webpage. Click on the link and you will find a lot of resources to help get you started. Just remember, we can’t possibly include every fund on our webpage, so don’t limit yourself to this page alone.

If you are a member of the Armed Forces, you may be eligible to apply for financial support for studies through the MODs Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme. Many of the courses available at UWS are registered as part of this scheme, which could provide some financial support towards the cost of tuition, should you not be eligible for SAAS, who in most cases can cover the full amount.

Find our more on the Enhanced Learning Credits website