What's New
A new National Service for funding information
A new national service to provide you with funding information is being run by learndirect scotland. Call them on 0808 100 9000 or visit their website at www.learndirectscotland.com .
Part-time HE students
ILA Scotland offers new grant support for students studying part-time Higher Education courses at colleges and universities that are registered with ILA Scotland. If you are 16 or over and living in Scotland you can apply for up to £500 a year towards the fees for part-time HE courses.
To qualify, your income must be £18,000 or less and you must be studying for at least 50% of a full-time course.
Even if you are studying less than 50% of a full-time HE course you may still be able to get up to £200 towards the cost of the course.
or visit 0808 100 1090To find out more, speak to your college or university or call the ILA Scotland helpline free on www.ilascotland.org.uk .
ILA Scotland
The age limit for ILA Scotland has been reduced from 18 to 16 or over.
Asylum Seekers and tuition fee support changes
Changes have been made to the support young unaccompanied asylum seekers and children of asylum seekers can receive from January 2008 onwards. Such individuals, satisfying the criteria below, will be eligible for 'home' rate tuition fee support to study full- and part-time Higher and Further Education courses in Scotland.
The criteria for eligibility are that the individual:
· is a young unaccompanied asylum seeker or the child of an asylum seeker;
· is resident in Scotland on 1st August, 1st January, 1st April or 1st July closest to the beginning of the first term of the person's course;
· has been resident in Scotland for a minimum period of 3 years;
· was under 18 years old on the date when the application for asylum was made (this application must have been made prior to 1st December 2006); and
· is under 25 years old on 1st August, 1st January, 1st April or 1st July closest to the beginning of the first term of the person's course.
Revised means test for student support
On 15 February 2008 the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning announced details of the revised means test arrangements for Further and Higher Education students from 2008/09.
From 2008/09, the income assessment will take into account a partner's income in the same way that the income of a spouse or civil partner is currently taken into account. The new means test is a fairer system that uses the same income assessment for all students in Further and Higher Education and better recognises the income available to modern households when assessing entitlement to student support.
In addition, eligibility for the Dependant's Grant is being extended to include students who have a partner on a low income.
Young Student's Bursary
Eligibility for the Young Student's Bursary is being extended to include, for the first time, students under 25 with a child over 3.
Abolition of Graduate Endowment
The Scottish Parliament decided on 28 February 2008 to abolish the Graduate Endowment.
This means that the Graduate Endowment will not apply to students who complete their course on or after 1 April 2007. Students who completed their course before that date will, unless eligible for exemption, still have to pay the Graduate Endowment.
Helping you meet the costs of learning: Your guide to funding 2008/2009
, is available from Helping you meet the costs of learning: Your guide to funding 2008/2009A summary of the funding support that is available to learners, learndirect scotland. Call them on 0808 100 9000 or visit their website at www.learndirectscotland.com .