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Support Services: Money Matters |
Further Education Programmes (NQ/NC/SWAP/SPA/SVQ/ACCESS/ GATEWAY)
Fees
Students who are attending the College on a full-time basis (at least 21 hours per week) will not be required to contribute towards the cost of your tuition fees provided you have been resident in the UK or another EEC country for the last 3 years and are ordinarily resident in Scotland on the 1st August 2009.
Students who are in receipt of benefits and enrolled in the College on a part-time basis should complete a fee waiver form to pay the cost of the programme. The fee waiver form may need to be stamped by a local Jobcentre Plus Office. This will have been discussed during your pre-enrolment interview. Further information on the fee waiver policy is available from the College's Administration Offices.
Bursaries
Bursaries are offered to eligible full-time students aged 18yrs and over to cover maintenance and travel costs. Payments are made directly into your bank account every fortnight.
Furthermore, some study costs relating to your programme will be paid on your behalf from the College bursary funds.
Lone parents are normally advised to apply for a bursary to cover their travel and study expenses in order to maintain existing benefits.
Once you have been accepted onto your programme you should apply for a bursary as quickly as possible as bursaries are awarded on a 'first come first come served' basis and funding is limited.
A bursary will be awarded to eligible part-time students to cover travelling expenses if you live at least one mile from the campus in which you are based. Application forms are available from the College's Advice Centres or Reception areas.
Further information is available from Michael Buchanan, the College Bursary Officer.
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
An EMA is available for eligible students aged 16 or 17 years. A student cannot receive both an EMA and a maintenance bursary, although they may be entitled to an EMA and a bursary towards travel expenses. The conditions attached to EMAs and Bursaries vary, as do the amounts paid. The College Advice Team and Bursary Officer will be able to provide further information as required.
Further Education Discretionary Fund
This fund is intended to provide financial help to students who experience hardship while studying on a College programme. Funding is in the form of a grant - not a loan. Each application is treated in the strictest confidence and considered on its own merit. To be considered for a Discretionary Fund payment a student must have reached their statutory school leaving age and have applied for a Bursary or EMA. Students can be studying on either a part-time or full-time programme and must be able to provide sufficient evidence of financial hardship.
Child Care Fund
Both part-time and full-time F.E. students can apply for support towards any childcare costs they incur as a result of attending College during the daytime. The student's child/children must be cared for by a registered childcare provider e.g. nursery, childminder or after school carer. Payment is normally made directly to the provider upon receipt of an invoice. Students must sign and return the College Agreement before any payment is made.
Child Benefit
Child Benefit is still payable for students aged up to 19yrs in full time non-advanced education.
Child Tax Credits
Students with children should ensure that they apply for the Child Tax Credit by contacting the Inland Revenue directly.
Council Tax Rebate
You may be entitled to a discount on your Council Tax bill as a result of you being a full time student. Further information can be obtained from your local Housing Offices.
Higher Education Programmes (HNC)
If you are starting a higher education course in 2009/10 you should apply to The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for support with your tuition fees, living costs (student loan & young student bursary), travel expenses and other supplementary grants available for certain categories of students, such as lone parents.
The College can provide assistance to complete application forms, however all applications must be made directly to SAAS (see useful addresses).
You can contact SAAS by email at saas.geu@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or visit their website at www.saas.gov.uk for further information.
In addition to funding available from SAAS, the College administers the Higher Education Discretionary Fund (HEDF) and the Higher Education Childcare Fund (HEDF).
To be eligible for support from the HEDF students can be full time or part time. Students must be in receipt of the maximum student loan available to them and be able to provide evidence of financial hardship.
Full time H.E. students can apply for support towards any childcare costs they incur as a result of attending College during the daytime. The childcare must be provided by a registered childminder or nursery and evidence of costs must be provided. Payment is normally made to the student.
Students should note that the level of support they receive from the HEDF and HEDF will not normally be as high as that received when studying on a non-advanced programme.