Further Education Courses

For example - National Certificate, Advanced National Certificate, SQA, SVQ, City & Guilds, BTEC, NPA or an Access Course.

Part-time (under 16 hours a week)

If you require any assistance, please also contact Student Services to meet with an adviser.

Higher Education Courses

For example - HNC or HND

Study Mode Fees SAAS Bursary Student Loan Lone Parent Grant Disabled Students Discretionary Childcare
Full-time Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Part-time Yes No No No Yes Yes No

For full information and to apply for any of these funds, please visit saas.gov.uk

Who can apply for funding

If you are beyond your statutory school leaving date* and satisfy the residence requirements set out by the Scottish Funding Council you can apply for funding for a college course.

*Students who are 16 by the 30 September can apply for funding from the start of the course. Students who are 16 between 1 October 2023 and 28 February 2024 can still apply for funding, however, any award you are eligible to receive will not start until January 2024.

Generally, you should meet these criteria

(e.g British or Settled or Pre-Settled status if an EEA national or Indefinite Leave to Remain/Permanent Residence)

* “Ordinarily resident” means habitual and normal residence in one place. EEA nationals generally need to have been resident in the UK by 31 December 2020 when the Brexit transition arrangements ended.

If you do not satisfy the above criteria, you may not be eligible for college funding. However, other categories of students may be eligible to apply for funding depending on their nationality or UK immigration permission (e.g. refugees). Fees status criteria and residence requirements are complex and funding eligibility depends on each individual’s circumstances. Please contact Student Services for assistance if you are unsure or complete a Fees Status Questionnaire and return it to the International Team who can determine whether you are a ‘home’ or ‘international’ student for funding purposes.

If you are from Orkney or Shetland - you must apply to your Local Education Authority for Further Education Bursary funding. However, students who are eligible for EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance) should apply to the college for this.

If you are from England, Northern Ireland or Wales – you may need to apply to your Local Education Authority for funding assistance. Please contact Student Services for further information.

Can I apply if I have studied before?

If you have previously received financial support for any further education full-time course(s) and you wish to study at the same level or a lower level course, your eligibility for bursary and/or EMA funding may be affected. Your eligibility for these funds may also be affected if you have studied at a higher level (HNC/HND/degree level courses) regardless of any funding you have received. You should still apply for bursary/EMA funding for consideration. There is a right of appeal if your application is rejected.

The college has access to a national database which can be used to check for previous studies. Please therefore ensure you disclose all previous courses on the relevant section of your application.

What funding may I be eligible for?