Further Education in Scotland – who pays?

A young person aged between 16 and 18 may wish to continue their education once they have completed their Standard Grade SCEs. Such education will usually be provided through a school Sixth Form, a Sixth Form College or through Further Education colleges. There are also private colleges, such as those in the performing arts.

Generally, no fees are payable (unless the college is private) provided certain criteria are met. The course must be full time and there are also residence conditions. Essentially the student must have been ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK or an EEA country for 3 years, though not for the purposes of study.

Colleges normally charge part-time students and those over 18. However, a student under 19 on a part-time course may be entitled to a reduced fee.

Students over 19 and on Income Support may also be exempt from fees.

Students at performing arts colleges can also get financial help with their fees through local authority awards. These can be applied for through designated colleges, but they have to be competed for.

Depending on your circumstances and the subject you’re studying, you may qualify for:

Financial help

Apart from the fees there is other financial help available. Some of it is government funded and the rest could come from a variety of sources:

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
Further Education Maintenance Bursaries
Skill seekers
Individual Learning Accounts
Travel and study costs
Childcare funds
Hardship funds
Modern Apprenticeships
Career Development Loan
Company sponsorship
Charitable funding
Bursaries
Support for students with disabilities or learning difficulties

Sources of information include:

The student’s school
Local education authorities’ careers guidance
Libraries
Local colleges

Education maintenance allowance

This scheme is designed to provide a financial incentive to young people to continue in formal education. The student could receive a weekly sum of up to £30 per week for up to three years. Bonuses may also be paid if the student does well on their courses. Further information is available from: www.emascotland.com

Further education bursaries

These are discretionary funds and are available for full-time students. They do not have to be paid back. They can include help with living expenses, but the amount awarded depends on the student’s family’s income. They can also include an amount for an adult dependant. Application is made to the college.

Help with transport costs and study expenses may also be applied for. Where there is particular hardship, funds may be available through the college’s Hardship Fund.

Some funds are mutually exclusive, which means that if you claim under one fund you may not be able to apply through another – for example, childcare costs.

Modern apprenticeships

This is work-based training for young people aged over 16. Learning and assessment takes place at the place of employment. But there may also be attendance at a college or training centre.

You are treated as an employee and will be paid wages and have to pay tax. You cannot be in full-time education at the same time.

Some extra financial help may be available to cover travel or childcare.

You will enter into a Training Agreement with your employer. How long the Apprenticeship lasts will depend on a number of factors, but it could be from 1 to 5 years.

Individual learning accounts

Over 16s who want to learn new skills through further education providers (which may be private colleges) may be eligible for up to £200 towards the cost through these accounts.

There is a wide range of courses available – for example, nail technology, cooking, computers, etc. Someone earning less than £18,000 may get up to £200 per year towards the cost of learning. If they earn more than £18,000 a year they could get up to £100 a year towards some computer courses.

Childcare costs

Colleges will have a Childcare Fund which can help pay for the costs of registered childcare. The funds are generally targeted at lone parents and mature students and part-time students, although full-time students can also apply.

Study and travel costs

In addition to the Maintenance Bursary a student may also be eligible for an additional allowance. This is to cover certain study costs such as, e.g. essential texts, health and safety items, or mandatory study trips. This allowance is not means-tested if you are under 18.

Help with travel expenses may be available through the college. You will have to fulfil the criteria they stipulate.

Hardship funds

Each college also has funds for additional help for students’ in particular financial difficulty or for emergencies. The purpose of the funds is to enable people to access education who would otherwise be prevented financially.

Career development loan

This is a loan from a bank specifically for the purpose of helping to pay for certain work-related learning. You must be at least 18 to be eligible. Repayments start at least a month after the training stops. They are made available through the Learning and Skills Council and three high street banks. They can cover a large proportion of the course fees, course costs and living expenses. The maximum amount that can be borrowed is £10,000.

Contact National Careers Service for further advice on Professional and Career Development Loans – 0800 100 900.

www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview

Sponsorship

Some companies will sponsor an employee. This would normally cover tuition fees and, occasionally, living costs. Application would have to be made to the employer direct.

Charitable funding

Some charities (for example, educational trusts) have funds available for particular groups of students who are unable to undertake or continue a course due to lack of financial resources. Such funding cannot be relied on as there are often many applicants for a limited amount of money.

A student may have to apply to several such organisations to cover different aspects of the course. The applicants will have to meet the charity’s criteria and there are also strict deadlines for applications.

Bursaries

These are similar to scholarships and, again, vary from organisation to organisation. The armed forces and the NHS are two such providers.

Funding for essential skills

In most cases you won’t have to pay for Level 1 and 2 English and maths courses at Learndirect You also might be able to take other courses with them for free.

Funding if you’re on benefits

If you’re on income-related benefits you might be able to get help through the Family Action Grants Programme.

While you’re studying you may be eligible for benefits like:

Loans for learners aged 24 and older

Starting in the 2013/14 academic year, learners 24 and older can get government loans for the tuition of FE courses at A level equivalent or higher, including apprenticeships. You won’t have to start repaying the loan until you finish your studies and are earning a good salary.

Contact the student finance department at the institution where you study to find out more.

Sources of information include: