Student finance and funding in Scotland

This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales

If you live in Scotland and you’re going to college or university, you might be able to get help with the cost of studying.

You might get funding to help with:

  • tuition fees

  • living costs – like rent and food

  • travel costs

  • study expenses – like books and equipment.

If you’re on a further education college course, you’ll usually apply through your college.

If you’re on a higher education course like a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or degree, you’ll apply through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

How to check your qualification level

Further education courses are courses below Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) level 4 or Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) level 7.

Higher education courses are SVQ level 4 or SCQF level 7 and above.

You can find a list of qualification levels on the SCQF website.

If you’re not sure what level your course is, ask your college or university.

You’re usually eligible for student funding as long as you continue to engage with your course. If you do not attend your course, or you withdraw early, your funding can be affected.

Funding for further education

Further education courses are usually studied at college.

What funding you can get for further education depends on your course and your circumstances.

You might be able to get:

  • Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

  • help with tuition fees

  • a bursary for living expenses, study costs and travel

  • extra money based on your circumstances.

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

If you’re aged 16 to 19 and want to keep learning, you might be able to get Education Maintenance Allowance of £30 per week.

To get EMA you’ll need to meet the rules about:

  • residency

  • household income

  • education status.

You can read more about Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) on mygov.scot.

Tuition fees for further education

If you’re an eligible full-time Scottish or EU student, you do not have to pay tuition fees for a further education course.

You can read more about funding for tuition fees on the Student Information Scotland website.

Part-time further education students usually have to pay tuition fees. You might get help with paying tuition fees (sometimes called a fee waiver) if you:

  • receive certain benefits

  • are on a low income

  • are disabled.

You should contact your college to check if you can get help with your tuition fees.

Bursaries for further education

Bursaries are help cover living costs, study costs and travel expenses. You do not need to pay bursaries back.

Your college funding team will assess your needs and decide how much money you’ll get. The amount you get is based on where you live and your household income.

You can check how much bursary you might get on the Student Information Scotland website.

Extra funding for further education

You might be able to get extra funding depending on your circumstances, for example if you’re:

  • a parent

  • a carer

  • care-experienced

  • disabled or have additional support needs

  • struggling with money.

You can find out more about extra funding for further education on the Student Information Scotland website.

How to apply for further education funding

To apply for funding for a further education course, you should contact your college.

Funding for higher education

If you normally live in Scotland, you’ll apply for higher education funding through the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

You might get:

  • help with tuition fees

  • a student loan or bursary for living expenses, study costs and travel

  • extra money based on your circumstances.

SAAS usually funds you for the fewest number of years you need to complete your course, but you might be allowed 1 extra year of funding in some situations – for example if you need to repeat a year.

Important

You need to apply for SAAS funding every year

SAAS does not automatically pay when you enrol on a course. You need to apply for funding every year you study, including for tuition fees.

Tuition fees for higher education

What help you can get with tuition fees dependents on where you study.

If you live in Scotland and study full time at a Scottish college or university, your tuition fees will usually be covered by SAAS. If your application is successful, SAAS will pay the university on your behalf.

If you study in another part of the UK, you can get a loan to cover your tuition fees.

SAAS has more information on:

  • the amount you can get for tuition fees

  • tuition fees for students from abroad

  • tuition fees for studying abroad

  • tuition fees for other types of courses.

Read more about funding for tuition fees on the SAAS website.

If you’re a part-time higher education student, you might be eligible for a part-time fee grant (PTFG) to help you pay tuition fees. You can check if you qualify for the part-time fee grant on the Student Information Scotland website.

Student loans for higher education

You might be able to apply for a student loan for living costs. The amount you can get is partly based on your household income, and whether you’re classed as a young student or an independent student.

You can read more about student loans in the SAAS funding guide on their website.

You’ll usually repay the loan after you finish your course and earn over a certain amount. You can read more about repaying your student loan on the SAAS website.

Bursaries for higher education

Bursaries are help cover living costs, study costs and travel expenses. You do not need to pay bursaries back.

The amount of bursary you can get depends on your household income and whether you’re:

  • a young student

  • an independent student

  • estranged from your parents

  • care experienced.

You can read more about bursaries in the SAAS funding guide on their website.

Private colleges and training providers

SAAS can also fund full-time undergraduate courses at approved private colleges and training providers.

You can apply for the same living costs funding as those at a publicly funded college or university – but your tuition fees might not be fully covered.

You can read more about SAAS funding for private colleges and training providers on the SAAS website.

Funding for postgraduate students

If you’re studying a full-time postgraduate course, your tuition fees are not automatically paid for you. You might be able to get a loan to help pay them.

You can apply to Students Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for:

  • a tuition fee loan

  • a postgraduate living costs loan

  • disabled students allowance.

Read more about postgraduate funding on the SAAS website.

Extra money and help for students

You might be able to get extra money depending on your age, circumstances and where you study.

Scholarships and sponsorships

You might be able to apply for scholarships and sponsorships from places like:

  • your college or university

  • government

  • your employer

  • charitable organisations.

These do not usually need to be paid back.

If you know where you’d like to study, you can search for scholarships on your college or university’s website.

You can also search for scholarships, bursaries and grants on the UCAS website.

If you don’t have enough money while studying

If you’re having money problems while studying, your college or university might be able to help you through a discretionary fund. This might be called a hardship fund or emergency fund.

Ask your college or university how to apply.

You can read more about discretionary funds on the Student Information Scotland website.

Claiming benefits as a student

There are special rules about claiming benefits while you’re studying.

Benefits you can still get as a student

Some benefits are not affected by studying, for example:

  • Child Benefit

  • Adult Disability Payment

  • Carer Support Payment – unless you’re aged 16 to 19 (with some exceptions).

You can still apply for these benefits even if you’ve already started your course.

If you’re studying part-time

You can usually continue to claim other benefits – but you might still have to look for and be available for work if you’re claiming Universal Credit.

If you’re studying full-time

Most full-time students are not allowed to claim means-tested benefits. Means-tested benefits include:

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

  • Housing Benefit

  • Universal Credit.

Some people can still claim these benefits while studying full-time. You might still be able to claim these benefits if you’re:

  • a parent

  • disabled

  • living with a non-student partner

  • a young person with no parental support.

However, the amount you get from these benefits might be affected by any student loans, grants or bursaries you’re entitled to – even if you don’t apply for this funding.

The rules about benefits for students are complicated. If you need help, you should speak to an adviser.

If you finish your course and have a gap before the next one

After you finish your course, you are no longer treated as a full-time student, even if you plan to start another course next year.

You might be able to apply for benefits during the gap. Check what benefits you can get.

Page last reviewed on 02 June 2026