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Advice for students

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We don’t fund individual students directly as our funding goes directly to colleges and universities but see below for further advice if you are a student looking for funding support.

Scottish domiciled students

Student Information Scotland

The Student Information Scotland (SIS) portal is a new Scottish Government resource which puts information about FE and HE student funding and finance altogether in one place for the first time, including help for parents, carers and education professionals. The site has recently gone into public beta test phase and feedback is welcome.

Colleges

Applications for our student support funds are made directly to the college. Colleges cannot use these funds for school age students who are still at school or for students who are studying for a qualification above the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework level 6.

Residency requirements are set out in the Further Education Residency guidance.

Students should refer to individual colleges for information on specific courses. For advanced level courses, i.e. those at SCQF level 7 (HNC) or above, students may be eligible for funding from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

Email: studentsupport@sfc.ac.uk for more information.

Universities

Applications by Scottish domiciled students for the payment of course fees and student support funds should be made to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). SAAS will be able to advise if you meet the residency criteria and if you are eligible to have your fees paid.

We do, however, provide funding to cover tuition fees for a set number of places on taught postgraduate courses at various Scottish universities. This funding is paid directly to universities and not to individual students. Further details on applying for SFC funded postgraduate places are available from the relevant university.

SAAS Stakeholder Toolkit

The SAAS Stakeholder Toolkit 2024-25 helps students find the right information, support and funding

International students

Scholarships and financial support

The British Council provides various details on scholarships and financial support for students who live outwith the EU and are interested in studying in the UK.

Change in Fee Support for EU Students

As a result of Brexit, higher education students coming from the EU to attend Scottish colleges and universities no longer qualify for tuition fee support. Home fee status for EU students coming to study in Scotland came to an end after AY 2020-21.

Studying abroad

Following the UK’s exit from the EU, Scotland is not able to participate in the Erasmus scheme. Erasmus+ is the EU’s programme to support education, training, youth and sport in Europe. The Scottish Government is exploring how institutions can continue to benefit from the scheme and use existing relationships. We will continue to monitor and inform our stakeholders of relevant updates.

The Turing Scheme is the UK government’s scheme to provide funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world. The new application site is live, with accompanying application guidance.

SFC Strategic Plan 2022-27

Building a connected, agile, sustainable tertiary education and research system for Scotland.

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