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Part-Time
As a part-time student you can claim for some of the same support as full-time students, such as:
- childcare costs;
- hardship; and
- travel expenses.
Part-time Further Education
Fees
Most students studying part-time and on distance learning courses will have to pay tuition fees. However, if you are in receipt of certain benefits, on a low income or are disabled you may be eligible for free tuition.
If you're aged over 18 and earn £18,000* or less per year, you may qualify for an Individual Learning Account ( ILA) of up to £200 each year towards the cost of certain courses. For information on the scheme visit the ILA Scotland website www.ilascotland.org.uk or phone the ILA Scotland helpline free on 0808 100 1090 for advice about what learning is available.
For more information and eligibility details please contact your college.
Living Costs
Maintenance bursaries are not usually available for part-time students in Further Education, but if you will suffer hardship because of attending your course you should discuss this with the college.
* This income threshold is subject to parlimentary approval
If you're out of work and studying part-time you may still qualify for Jobseeker's Allowance, as long as your course is less than 21 hours a week and you can show that you're still available for work. You may also still be able to receive Income Support. Check this with your local Jobcentre Plus office.
Help for Those You Support Financially
Childcare Costs
Part-time students are also one of the priority groups for childcare support. Colleges have a Childcare Fund which is used to help pay for registered childcare.
Additional Help
You may also be eligible for support towards appropriate study and travel expenses, as well as the Additional Support Needs for Learning allowance.
Part-time students may also be able to get some financial help from hardship funds.
Part-time Further Education
For more information and eligibility details please contact your local college.
Here's an example of the sort of help that may be available:
Helen, a mum, is improving her skills before returning to the job market
Helen (30) is married and hopes to go back to work when her son David (3) goes to school next year. Meantime, she wants to brush up on her office skills to have a better chance on the job market.
Her local college has just the course she's looking for, a part-time course in office and computing skills, running for 15 hours per week. As a mature student she doesn't need formal qualifications, and she can put forward her experience and skills at an interview to gain a place.
As she is taking a part-time course and her husband earns £20,000 a year and the family is not in receipt of any qualifying benefit her fees will not be paid. However she can apply for an Individual Learning Account of £200 to help pay her course fees.
Helen speaks to the Bursary Officer at her local college to ask what funding she might be eligible for. The Bursary Officer tells Helen about possible help with her travel and study needs, explaining that their college has opted to provide students with travel tickets.
She also applies to the college for assistance from the College Childcare Fund, which the college has decided to use to provide a childminder on the college campus for students' children.
Part-Time Higher Education
Fees
Most students studying part-time and on distance learning courses will have to pay tuition fees. However, a "fee waiver" scheme can provide you with fee support if you are unemployed or on a low income and are studying an HE course. For more information and eligibility details please contact your institution, college or Open University.
Living Costs
You may be eligible for a £500 student loan provided you are studying at least 50% of a full-time course. The loan is means tested. If you are:
- a single student, your income must be less than £15,367. This threshold increases by £2000 for your eldest child and a further £1000 for each other child
- a married student or have entered into a Civil Partnership, your income must be less than £17,367. This threshold increases by £2000 for your eldest child and a further £1000 for each other child.
Help for Disabled Students
If you are a distance-learning student or studying part-time and the course is equivalent to at least 50% of a full-time course ( HNC, HND, degree or equivalent), you may also be eligible for the Disabled Students' Allowance ( DSA) which is not income assessed.
Additional Help
If you are experiencing particular financial difficulty you can apply for help from your institution's Hardship Funds. This can include help with childcare, housing and travel costs.
More Information on Part-Time Higher Education support
For more information and eligibility details please contact SAAS, your university college or Open University.
Here's an example of how the support might work:
Angus goes for an Open University degree
Angus is a 25-year-old independent student, sharing a rented flat. He's disabled and wants to study part-time for a first degree with the Open University.
Although most part-time and distance learning students have to pay tuition fees, Angus was able to apply for his course fees through the Open University because he is on a low income.
There's also a student loan of £500 available to cover his course-related costs for each year of his course. And because he will be studying for more than half the hours of a full-time course, he is entitled to a Disabled Student's Allowance. This helps with specialist equipment, non-medical personal help or other course-related costs. Angus was worried about taking the course as he could not afford to buy a computer; his Disabled Student's Allowance means he now can buy one.
He is also still entitled to disability benefits, and other living or housing benefits, from the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP). They are not affected by taking the course. The DWP will also ignore his student loan when they work out his entitlement to benefits.
Emma an independent student studying in Scotland
Emma is a 30-year-old lone parent with two small children. She is considering going to college to do an HND in computer studies and wants to know what her funding options are if she gets a job and studies part-time for her degree.
If Emma decides to study part-time:
- she will have to pay her own course fees unless she is in receipt of certain benefits or is on a low income
- fees are set by the institutions themselves and will depend on the courses studied
- if her income is below £18,367 she can apply for a £500 student loan from SAAS for each year of her course
- she will not have to pay the graduate endowment as she is studying part-time
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