Student Funding – Higher Education Q + A with Student Awards Agency Scotland
In August this year, the Scottish Government announced the student support arrangements for 2013-14. Developed in consultation with and supported by NUS Scotland the student package is the best in the UK, importantly this will increase the overall minimum income to £7,250 for the poorest students, provide a loan of £4500 regardless of income and will see part-time fees abolished for those earning less than 25,000.
As October is the peak time for higher education funding applications and many of you may be looking to apply or find out more for next year, to help with the process we are running a Q + A with Scotland’s administering body, Student Awards Agency Scotland. So, if you have any questions around the new university support arrangements, now’s the time to ask away
(NB: College / further education arrangements are currently being considered by the Post-16 Reform Team, any future updates on that will be publicised through Engage).
Submit your questions:
Add any higher education/university funding questions you may have below or submit them to us via the @EngageForEd Twitter on the hash tag #ScotStudentSupport. We’ll answering as many as we can in a live chat this coming Thursday, 11th October from 12:30 – 1:30pm with SAAS adviser Leia Fitzgerald and a Scottish Government policy official.
This Higher Education Q + A is supported by and run in conjunction with:
Related:
2013/14 Scottish student support arrangements announced.
SAAS Funding update for 2013/14 [SAAS website].
Have your say
Join in the discussion and help us make Scottish Education even better.
Question from @SCHutcheon on twitter: @engagefored What funding will be available to PT students who earn well under current ILA500 salary threshold? #scotstudentsupport
Hi,
I would like to know exactly what support would be available to me as a swiss national (and child thereof) living in Switzerland and wanting to study for a BA starting 2013 in Scotland.
A from Leia: Some Swiss nationals are eligible for support based on personal circumstances, best way to check yours more specifically is contact SAAS directly. Info on dependant children of a Swiss national on our website here: http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/dependant_…
can we send parents income through email?
Leia: Yes, you can scan in appropriate documentation, eg. P60 and email. Remember to include your name and SAAS reference no.
I would like to know why grants will be less and loans will be higher for Scottish students studying outside of Scotland but still within the UK? Basically what happened to the students outside Scotland bursary? Also, why is there no higher amount for studying in central London? In regards to course fee's does a Scottish student pay back after £15,750 earning or the English, Welsh and Northern Irish £24,000?
Answer from Neil MacLennan, Scottish Government:
Hi Sean, the students outside Scotland bursary was removed as part of the simplification announced by the Cabinet Secretary in August. Now, all students get the same maintenance support, with students studying in England eligible for further loans to help them cover the cost of the tuition fees that are charged there.
About to get underway – Welcome Neil from Scottish Government and Leia from SAAS.
Thanks for joining us today, can you start by giving us a quick introduction about your role in student funding?
Neil: Hi I'm Neil MacLennan, Head of Student Support Policy within the Higher Education Division of the Education Department in Scottish Government.
Our division's role is to advise Ministers on how best to provide a package of student support for Scottish students and students living in Scotland.
Leia: Hello, I'm a senior policy officer at Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS), my role is to provide guidance and advice on eligibility for support, whether that's to students or institutions.
Hello, Is it correct that any student of EU nationality (apart from UK) is not eligible for a tuition fee anymore because of the nationality. But in coparison, students fro the EEA and Switzerland are eligible. In consequence, Scottland's universities become only affordable for an elite.
First question from on behalf of Parents from members of @ParentForumScot http://www.npfs.org.uk...
Q: Tina, from NPFS: Do the recently announced support arrangements apply to FE as well as HE?
Neil: No, we are looking at how we support FE students with a view to improving the offer, but this is still a work in progress.
Q: from Tina NPFS – I'd like to know more about what SAAS does in general (and what they don't do)?
A: Leia: We are a government agency that pays grants and bursaries to Scottish students in Higher Education. We have 170 staff and deal with more than 150,000 applications each year… brief summary but there's more detail on our website here http://www.saas.gov.uk/about_saas.htm . Amongst our key responsibilities are dealing with assessment and payment of living costs and tuition fees, as well as administering student allowance schemes and nursing and midwifery bursaries.
A: Leia, one thing I didn't mention that we don't do that sometimes comes up – Responsibility for repayment of student loans. That's administered and handled separately by the Student Loans Company- http://www.slc.co.uk
Q from @Schutcheon on twitter: @engagefored What funding will be available to PT students who earn well under current ILA500 salary threshold?
Neil: Students with a personal income of less than 25k may be eligible to apply for tuition fee support. The amount will be a proportion of the full time tuition fee rate (£1,820) based on the no. of credits they are studying. A full time course is 120 credits, part time courses are often 30, 60 or 90 credits.
Leia: We've put a page of all the changes on the SAAS website so you can see a summary for part time study aswell: http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/funding_up…
Can you give an update on the NHS Dental Students Bursary for 2013/2014?
A: Leia This is still under review, we'll publish details on the SAAS website as soon as possible #ScotStudentSupport
Q: From @gpcfcommittee on twitter: why does SAAS not give advice to pupils in schools regarding how to apply for funding.
A: Leia: SAAS make hundreds of visits to schools each year to talk to pupils directly, if you'd like us to visit just ask your school to get in touch via our website http://www.saas.gov.uk/contact.htm we also have an online version of our school talk available for you to watch on our youtube channels: http://www.youtube.com/user/fundingawareness 'Funding for 2013-14' if you want the overview.
Q from @Laura_LT_93 on twitter: @engagefored will I get any support if I am EU,lived in EU for 17 yrs, but it will be 3 years england nxt yr, when entering uni? thnx
Leia: Non-UK EU nationals who wish to study in Scotland are eligible to apply to SAAS for payment of tuition fees. More information available on SAAS website contact us to discuss in more detail.
Answer from Leia, SAAS:
Hi @Laura_LT_93 Here's the general helpline number here if you want to call @SAAS and discuss this: 0300 555 0505 (option 4)
Hi SAAS,
I greatly appreciate your help with my studies. In the 2013-2014 session I will be in my last year as a young student.
As a Romanian national, am I entitled to the funding packages? Also, can we only take the bursary and not the loan?
Thank you
Hi Ozgur, here's an answer from Leia from SAAS:
EU nationals studying in Scotland can apply for payment of their tuition fees. They are not normally eligible for a student loan or bursary. Full information about the support available to EU nationals can be found on our website – http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/eu_student…
Q from @Luddette from twitter:
@engagefored #ScotStudentSupport I'd like to know how it's decided which courses merit bursary support
Reply from Neil @ScotGov:
We support a huge range of college courses. Basically if the course qualifies for a fee waiver then students on that course may be eligible for that bursary. The courses themselves are selected on the basis of current social and economic priorities.
Question from @BobbyWatersx on Twitter:
@engagefored i Wrote To You To Say i Would Like To Apply For Bursary Too In August But i got Student Award Letter But Nothing About Bursary
Answer from Leia, SAAS:
Hi Bobby, best way to find out is just to give our helpline a call and find out if they have it – our different helpline numbers are available on the website here: http://www.saas.gov.uk/contact.htm
Question from the National Parent Forum of Scotland on behalf of parents:
Q. Can you explain the difference between loans and bursaries?
A. From Neil MacLennan, Scottish Government:
In simple terms, a loan has to be paid back, a bursary does not.
NPFS Question. Can you explain the thresholds for bursaries (and what to do if circumstances change)?
Answer from Leia, SAAS:
The table on the SAAS website page http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/funding_up… shows the threshold for bursaries. If a student’s circumstances change they should contact us as soon as possible to find out what impact it may have on their award.
Q from Tina at NPFS:
We are relieved that the complicated thresholds for loans have been removed (I never understood why a loan should be means tested). However it would be good to borrow all that is needed – ie up to £7,250 if that is the deemed cost by Scottish Government. I don't really understand why loans for the full amount aren't being offered?
Answer from Neil MacLennan, Scottish Government:
Hi Tina, it's because loans are not without cost to the Scottish Government. The amount of loans available under the current system represents the most that we can offer within the resources available to us and is a substantial increase on what was previously available.
Q from NPFS, Could you give me some more information on the interest rate on the loan and how this will be controlled? I’d also like more detail on how/when it would be paid back, who the loan company is etc, plus if there are credit checks etc. I take it that the loan is the young person's and not the parent's but is this the case? Can it be either?
Answer from Neil MacLennan, Scottish Government:
It will always be cheaper than commercial lending. The loan is administered by the Student Loan’s Company, it doesn’t have to be paid back until the person concerned is earning more than £15,000, and it is the responsibility of the young person, not the parent. The loan is only available to those who are studying, i.e. the student, not the parent.
Q from Tina from the NPFS. I don't quite understand the part-time student bit re the proportion of the full-time fee equivalent.
Answer from Neil MacLennan, Scottish Government:
Hi Tina, we will support the part-time student with their fees as a proportion of the full-time fee rate, e.g. if they are studying a course that is 50% full-time they will get access to 50% of the full-time fee support.
Question from the NPFS. What is the role that SAAS would play (if any) for those who are looking at English, Welsh or European courses because the same courses aren't available in Scotland, or there is more chance of getting on non-Scottish ones?
Answer from Leia, SAAS:
Scottish students studying in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are eligible to apply for the same loan and bursary package as students studying in Scotland. They can also apply to us for a tuition fee loan of up to £9,000 to cover the cost of their tuition fees. There is currently no support available from SAAS for students who want to take the whole of their degree in a country outside the UK, except for those studying at certain universities in the Republic of Ireland (more information is available on our website http://www.saas.gov.uk ).
Q from the NPFS. I’d like to know about what students should do if they are struggling when at university/college?
Answer from Neil MacLennan, Scottish Government: Approach their college and ask for access to the discretionary funds, money that is provided by the Government to support students facing particular hardship.
Q from NPFS: Who can help young people through the SAAS process if they don't have support at home or school?
Answer from Leia, SAAS:
We offer online help and support through a variety of mediums, e.g. SAAS website, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. Students can also phone or email us or pop into our offices in Edinburgh. Colleges, universities and careers advisors will also be able to give guidance to students on how to apply to SAAS.
Q from NPFS: I’d like some more clarity about the parent’s role – SAAS will only speak to the young people because of data protection, but actually some find it very hard to follow up successfully by telephone and it is unclear how parents can support this.
Answer from Leia, SAAS:
Due to data protection rules we cannot discuss individual cases in detail with anyone other than the student concerned. However, parents can get general information about student support through our website or social media sites. If students do need to contact us they can do so by phone, writing/email or visit our offices http://www.saas.gov.uk/contact.htm .
Hello i am a Greek graduate and i would like to continue mu studies in H.W.
Am i eligible for a loan from S.A.A.S?