Creative Centre
Funding
Information and support regarding financial matters, including bursaries, Students Awards Agency, Student Loans Company, Childcare and Discretionary funds is available from our Student Funds Office.
The Student Funds Bursary Office is located in Spectrum, in the Street Building. For more information, please call 01506 418181 or email bursaries@west-lothian.ac.uk
What help is available for living expenses while I'm studying?
When you're given an offer of place, the College will send you a Student Guide on Supported Funds and a Further Education Funding Application Form which you must complete and return.
You can apply on this form for:
a bursary to help with living expenses
allowances for travel, books and equipment
16 - 19 year-old students can apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance of £30 per week if their household income is £22,403 per annum or less
Additional funding for full time SVQ, NQ and Higher programmes
What additional help is available?
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) provides two funds that offer additional support to Further Education (FE) students:
Childcare Fund (CF)
Further Education Discretionary Fund (FEDF)
These funds are part of the overall student finance package.
Are all students entitled to assistance from these funds?
There are very clear eligibility rules which are detailed below. You must satisfy all the rules before you can be considered for assistance. It is possible that you may be eligible for support from one or more of the funds.
These are discretionary funds and it should be noted:
They are targeted at students whose need is greatest.
Not all eligible students will receive payments.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of their income and spending commitments so that priority can be given to those in greatest need.
Payments towards general living costs may have implications for a student’s entitlement to DWP benefits.
What are the priorities?
The FECF is to be used for registered or formal childcare only.
This fund is designed to help FE students with their childcare costs. There is a maximum of £20 per child per day, £10 per child per half day.
The main priority of the FEDF is to help students in particular need.
This is likely to mean those who have lost entitlement to Housing Benefit, those who have left care or are estranged from their parents, students not fully supported under bursary policy, individuals facing a crisis, etc. Other causes of hardship will also be considered.
How much might I receive?
It depends on the number of applicants and the particular circumstances of each individual. It is also possible that initial awards will have to be reviewed at a later date depending on the availability of funds.
Each application will be treated on its own merits and will be subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 90%.
How can I check if I am eligible?
Contact the Student Funds Office on 01506 418181 who will be able to tell you if you are eligible for support from one or more of the funds. If you are eligible, you will be sent an application form which you must complete in full and return with the necessary evidence.
What happens next?
All applications will be passed to the “Student Funds Committee” for consideration.
You will hear from the committee within two weeks of your application.
A letter will be sent to your home address if your application is successful detailing the amount of award.
If you are unhappy with the decision you may appeal in writing.
How will I be paid?
It depends on the circumstances. Payments will normally be made in the following:
1) Childcare Fund
All formal childcare costs will be paid monthly in advance on submission of an invoice from the provider of childcare.
2) Further Education Discretionary Fund
This is paid on the 1st of every month into your bank account.
All the above funds are subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 90%.
Funding for students on HNC/D programmes
Please see http://www.saas.gov.uk/ for information on Fees, Student Loans, Independant Student Bursary and Young Student Bursary.
What additional help is available?
There are two funds which offer additional support to Higher Education (HE) students:
Childcare Fund (CF)
Higher Education Hardship Fund (HEDF)
Lone Parents Grant
Lone Parents Childcare Grant
These funds are part of the overall student finance package.
Are all students entitled to assistance from these funds?
There are very clear eligibility rules which are: you must apply for your fees to be paid by SAAS, and have taken the maximum Student Loan available to you. You must satisfy all the rules before you can be considered for assistance. It is possible that you may be eligible for support from one fund but not the other.
These are discretionary funds and it should be noted:
They are targeted at students whose need is greatest.
Not all eligible students will receive payments.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of their income and spending commitments so that priority can be given to those in greatest need.
Payments towards general living costs may have implications for a student’s entitlement to DSS benefits.
What are the priorities?
The CF is to be used to help with registered or formal childcare. Lone parents with childcare costs are a particular priority. However, payment will only be made when childcare costs exceed the £1,215 payable from the Lone Parents Childcare Grant.
The main priority of the HEDF is to help students in particular need. This is likely to mean those who have lost entitlement to Housing Benefit, those who have left care or are estranged from their parents, individuals facing a crisis, etc. Other causes of hardship will also be considered.
How much might I receive?
It depends on the number of applicants and the particular circumstances of each individual. It is also possible that initial awards will have to be reviewed at a later date depending on the availability of funds.
Each application will be treated on its own merits and will be subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 90%.
How can I check if I am eligible?
Contact the College Bursary Officer on 418181 who will be able to tell you if you are eligible for support from one of the funds. If you are eligible, you will be sent an application form which you must complete in full and return with the necessary evidence.
What happens next?
All applications will be passed to the “Student Funds Committee” for consideration.
You will hear from the committee within two weeks of your application.
A letter will be sent to your home address if your application is successful detailing the amount of award.
If you are unhappy with the decision you may appeal.
How will I be paid?
It depends on the circumstances. Payments will normally be made in the following way:
Childcare Fund
All formal childcare costs will be paid monthly in advance on submission of an invoice from the provider of childcare.
HEDF
This will be paid on the 1st of each month into your bank account.
All the above funds are subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 90%.
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