Lorraine an independent student studying in Scotland
Lorraine is 26 years old, a lone parent with two small children and has been studying full-time for the past year at her local college. She has obtained Highers in various subjects and is now considering going to university to do a degree and she wants to know what funding she will get when she starts university. She would also like to know what her funding options are if she gets a job and studies part-time for her degree.
At college Lorraine was a Further Education (FE) student as the courses she took were below Higher National Certificate (HNC) level. As a full-time FE student her course fees were paid and she received a non-repayable bursary, on-site access to the nursery for her children, plus help with her travel costs.
If Lorraine decides to study for her degree full-time she will be classed as an independent Higher Education (HE) student, and she will get the following:
- course fees paid
- a means-tested student loan (the maximum loan she can receive will be £4,510 per year)
- a lone parent's grant of £1,270 per year
- a lone parent's childcare grant of £1,185 per year for her formal childcare costs as the university does not provide childcare facilities
- help with her travel costs.
Lorraine must apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for this support.
If Lorraine 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 £18, 000 or less and she is studying for at least 50% of a full-time course, she can apply for a fee grant of up to £500 from ILA Scotland for each year of her course.