Learners in Scotland have the option of undertaking a wide range of learning including further or higher education. The course chosen will determine the type and level of funding available.
Further Education is courses which are not taught in a school and are below Higher National Certificate (HNC) level. They cover levels 1-6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and include:
- academic courses up to Higher level;
- courses that do not lead to formal qualifications (such as independent living skills courses);
- basic skills courses, such as literacy and numeracy; and
- work-related courses, such as Scottish Vocational Qualifications (SVQs)
Learner may be able to get support for Further Education (in the form of a grant) by having an assessment, but not everyone who applies is eligible for a grant.
Higher Education is courses of study which are at Higher National Certificate level or above (that is Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 7 or above).
They can be taken at college or at university and include:
- an undergraduate honours degree;
- an undergraduate ordinary degree; or
- a Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Higher National Diploma (HND)
Support for students following a course of higher education comes as a loan, with a number of grants and bursaries available for specific groups of students depending on their circumstances.
Support, which can be obtained on application to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, is available as follows:
| | Young Students (Aged under 25 at start of course) | Independent Students (25 or older, married or self supporting at start of course) |
| Family income | Bursary | Loan | Total | Bursary | Loan | Total |
| < £17k | £1.75k | £5.5k | £7.25k | £750 | £6.5k | £7.25k |
| £17k to £24k | £1k | £5.5k | £6.5k | £0 | £6.5k | £6.5k |
| £24k to £34k | £500 | £5.5k | £6k | £0 | £6k | £6k |
| > £34k | £0 | £4.5k | £4.5k | £0 | £4.5k | £4.5k |