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Finance is an important aspect of student life. It is important to manage your finances so that debts do not accumulate. However, sometimes debts can pile up and you will need to get some help to sort these out.

Information and support regarding financial matters, including bursaries, Students Awards Agency, Student Loans Company, Childcare and Hardship funds is available from our Bursary Officer.

The Bursary Officer is located in Spectrum, upstairs in the Street Building, and appointments can be made by visiting the Spectrum Reception desk at the top of the stairs in person, by telephoning 01506 418181, or by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Janice Turner
Bursary Officer

Funding for full time SVQ, NQ and Higher programmes

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 Bursary 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 and 17 year-old students can apply for an Education Maintenance Allowance of £10, £20 or £30 per week if their household income is £31,528 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 Hardship Fund (FEHF)

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 DSS benefits.

What are the priorities?

The CF is to be used for registered or formal childcare only.

Lone parents are a particular priority though full time and part time students can also be helped.

The main priority of the FEHF 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 is difficult to say at the moment, as it will depend 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. It is hoped that the CF will be able to meet all the costs of formal childcare for eligible students.

The FEHF maximum payment is £3,500.

It should be noted that these are maximum levels and each application will be treated on its own merits and will be subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 85%.

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 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?

1. All applications will be passed to the “Student Hardship Committee” for consideration.

2. You will hear from the committee within two weeks of your application.

3. A letter will be sent to your home address if your application is successful detailing the amount of award.

4. If you are unhappy with the decision you may appeal to the Principal.

How will I be paid?

It depends on the circumstances. Payments will normally be made in the following:

• Childcare Fund
  
  All formal childcare costs will be paid monthly in advance on submission of an invoice from the provider of childcare.
  
• Further Education Hardship Fund
  
  This will be paid once during each teaching block.
  

All the above funds are subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 85%.

Additional funding for students on HNC/D programmes

What additional help is available?

The Scottish Executive now provides two funds which offer additional support to Higher Education (HE) students:

• Higher Education Childcare Fund (HECF)
• Higher Education Hardship Fund (HEHF)

These funds are part of the overall student finance package (Student Loan and Lone Parents’ Grant, etc.).

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 HECF 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 £1,130 payable by SAAS for Lone Parents Childcare Grant.

The main priority of the HEHF 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 is difficult to say at the moment, as it will depend 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.

The maximum total support form HEHF is £3,500 and the minimum is normally £100.

It should be noted that these are maximum levels and each application will be treated on its own merits and will be subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 85%.

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?

1. All applications will be passed to the “Student Hardship Committee” for consideration.

2. You will hear from the committee within two weeks of your application.

3. A letter will be sent to your home address if your application is successful detailing the amount of award.

4. If you are unhappy with the decision you may appeal to the Principal.

How will I be paid?

It depends on the circumstances. Payments will normally be made in the following way:

• Higher Education Childcare Fund  
  
  All formal childcare costs will be paid monthly in advance on submission of an invoice from the provider of childcare.
  
• Higher Education Hardship Fund
  
  This will be paid once during each teaching block.

All the above funds are subject to satisfactory attendance levels of 85%.

Frequently asked questions