Non-advanced courses are designed to give you an introduction to a topic. Types of courses include: College Access Courses, National Certificate level courses and Scottish Group Awards. DO I PAY FEES? Depends on your course. - If you want to do a full time course you DON'T pay fees - If you want to do a part-time course fees will be charged, unless you are in receipt of benefits and you are "NOT required to be available to work". CAN I CLAIM BENEFITS? NO, as a full time student you can't claim benefits. But if you are on benefits and you are "NOT required to be available to work" (People with disabilities and lone parents) you can study full time and still claim benefits including housing, income support and incapacity benefit. In addition you can apply for a hardship fund to cover any extra costs such as books, travel and equipment. As a Part-time student you can claim benefits CAN I GET EXTRA MONEY? Yes. You have two options: The colleges and Universities have a Hardship Fund designed to help students (depending on personal circumstances) with childcare, transport and stationery. This is a means-tested award which means you will be required to give the College detailed information of your financial situation. For information on Hardship Funds please click here: HARDSHIP FUND: To get hardship money you need to complete a simple form, available from the College Finances Department. Normally the form asks for your personal, course and finances details. Remember you won't be penalised for applying. So if you need money, make sure you ask for it. For applying do this: 1. Go to the finance department and ask for a form AS SOON AS you identify your course and your needs. 2. Fill in the form. Remembering to fill ALL the gaps and answer ALL the questions. Make sure you provide ALL the papers that the application requests. If you can't provide all the paper work required, approach the finance office with the application and explain the situation. Some times (depending on which paper you are waiting for or missing) they will let you put the application through and you can bring the paper later. 3. Return the application to the finance office. If you have time, it is always a good idea to ask the support services to check your application, so you are sure that everything is correct. 4. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to process. If after 4 weeks you have not received any news call the finance department. 5. Don't leave it late. The Colleges take time to process forms. The sooner you do it, the sooner you get the money. EMERGENCY: 6. Remember if you have money problems while you are waiting for your funding to come through, you can apply for EMERGENCY FUNDING. Do this: a. Go to the support services or to the finance department and they will help you directly b. The Emergency funding will cover your needs while you are waiting for your funding c. The Emergency Fund is means-tested and required evidence of your situation. d. Depending your circumstances you can have some money handed to you the same day For further information about hardship funds please contact your College. The colleges also have a Young Student's Retention Fund for people aged between 16 and 24. This is a new fund for students starting a full-time, non-advanced course. Up to £400 may be available to parentally supported students, where the parental income is less than £18,000 per annum. If you want more information on Young Students Retention Fund please click here: THE YOUNG STUDENT RETENTION FUND ONLY RELEVANT IF YOU ARE AGED 16-24 • This is a new fund for students starting a full-time, non-advanced course, and aged between 16 and 24. Up to £400 may be available to parentally supported students, where the parental income is less than £18,000 per annum. • Do this: 1. Go to finance department. 2. Ask for a Young Students Retention Fund form AS SOON AS you identify your course and your needs. 3. Complete ALL the questions on the form and provide ALL the documents that the application requests. If you can't provide all the paperwork required, approach the finance offices with the application and explain the situation. Sometimes (depending on which paper you are waiting for or missing) they will let you put the application through and you can bring the paper later. 4. Return the application to the finance office. If you have time it is always a good idea to ask the support services to check your application so you are sure that everything is correct. 5. It takes 3 to 4 weeks to process. If after 4 weeks you have not received any news call the finance department. For further information about Young Student Retention Funds please contact your College CAN I GET A BURSARY? Yes, as a fulltime or part-time student the colleges have money to fund you on your course. This money is called a bursary. You can't get a bursary if you are in receipt of BENEFITS. However in some cases you might be better off on a bursary than on benefits. The colleges can do an assessment for you before you make your decision. • A Bursary is a grant paid by the College towards the cost of the course, travelling and living expenses. A Bursary is not a loan. It does NOT have to be paid back. • How much you get depends upon different factors like family income, personal responsibilities, student contribution, parental/spouse contribution and dependent children. • A basic bursary rate is between £792 and £2700 a year in a fulltime course, the amount you get is dependent on YOUR PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. For example, if you are a student under the ages of 18 and living with your parents you would get less, but if you are a student age 25 and over and supporting yourself and a child you would get more. • You will need a bank account. The bursary will be paid into your bank account at the end of each month. Remember to check with your bank branch if your account will accept the payment before you complete your bursary applications. • The bursary rates change at the beginning of each academic year, so for further information, in bursary rates, allowances and contribution, please contact your College. • Your bursary payments are dependent on full attendance at classes, and if this falls below 80% in any month, your payment will be STOPPED. Eligibility: In order to get a bursary you should: 1. Have been living in the UK for the last three years 2. Have been resident in Scotland on 30 June for courses starting in August or on 31 December for courses starting in January. 3. EU students can apply to get their fees paid, but CAN'T get a bursary and CAN'T get help from the Student Support Fund. For information on getting a bursary please click here: 1. Open a Bank account. 2. You will receive a bursary form with your letter of acceptance onto your course. 3. Apply now. The money is limited. 4. Get the form back on time. Remember to check the closing date for the application. 5. Complete the whole form and bring all the necessary paperwork. Sign the form and get your parent, partner or spouse to sign the application, as appropriate. a. Information you will need: i. Personal details ii. Course details iii. Bank account details iv. Details of family circumstances and income v. Address and phone number b. Documents required i. Birth certificate or Passport ii. Letter of acceptance onto the course iii. Depending on personal circumstances: - Brother/sister's birth certificate - Marriage certificate - Confirmation of divorce - Separation agreement - Child support agency letter - Income detail form ET1 or P60 - Benefit agency form ET2 or ET3 - Photocopy of child benefit - Self-employment form ET4 6. If you have trouble finding a specific document, take the application to the finance offices along with the rest of the papers and explain the situation. Sometimes (depending on which paper are you waiting for or missing) they let you put the application through and you can bring the paper later. 7. Return the application to the finance office. If you have time it is always a good idea to ask the support services to check your application so you are sure that everything is correct. 8. If you are going to post your application ensure that you include a self-addressed envelope. That way you will receive an acknowledgement card from the College, confirming that they have received your application. If you do not receive this within 2 weeks contact the College. 9. Normally the application takes 4 to 6 weeks. If after 6 weeks you have not received any news call the finance department. 10. You will receive either an award letter or a refusal letter. If the College refuses your award you can appeal (for the appeal process please follow the College's regulations). 11. REMEMBER to sign and return the Award Letter straight away. Your offer will be held for a maximum of 4 weeks. While you wait to hear you can apply for an EMERGENCY FUND: 12. Remember if you have money problems while you are waiting for your bursary to come through, you can apply for EMERGENCY FUNDING. a. Go to the support services or the finance department and they will help you directly b. Emergency funding will cover your needs while you are waiting and the money will be discounted from your bursary c. Depending on your circumstances you can have some money handed to you the same day RESPONSIBILITIES: • Your attendance will be checked every 4 weeks • You MUST attend a minimum of 80% of the course • If you do not fulfil the requirement, the College can with-hold your payment and/or make a deduction from future payments • If you are not able to attend because of illness you should present a medical certificate • You are required to contact your course tutor if you are absent at any time • You must remember that the bursary will not cover any holidays taken during the term time • If you change your address you must inform the finances department • If your personal circumstances change, please inform the finances department. For example if your spouse/partner become unemployed or their income drops during the session For further information about bursaries please contact your respective College.