Student funding

Embarking on your college journey is an exciting phase in your life, and our priority is to assist you in making the most of it by ensuring that your funding and support are in place before you begin. Whether it's covering tuition fees, travel expenses, or securing bursaries, you can access all the essential information regarding the support available during your time at college.

Every funding category has different eligibility and assessment criteria. You can explore the sections below to access further details about the various financial resources based on whether you're a Further Education or Higher Education student.

Further Education courses are delivered over 16+ hours and include National Certificate, Advanced National Certificate, SQA, SVQ or Access Course.

Fees
Bursary
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
Childcare
Discretionary Fund

Further Education part-time courses are delivered under 16 hours and include National Certificate, Advanced National Certificate, SQA, SVQ or Access Course.

Fees
Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)
Childcare
Discretionary Fund

Full-time Higher Education courses are delivered over 16+ hours and include HNC, HND and Degree.

Fees
Bursary
Student loan
Childcare
Discretionary Fund

Please note, the Higher Education Bursaries (Young Person's Bursary and Independent Students' Bursary) are accessed via SAAS, and not via the college's Student Funding team.

Part-time Higher Education courses are delivered under 16 hours and include HNC, HND and Degree.

Fees
Childcare
Discretionary Fund

Please note the Higher Education Bursaries (Young Person's Bursary and Independent Students' Bursary) are accessed via SAAS, and not via the College's Student Funding team.

To guarantee that you receive the maximum support you're eligible for and that your payments are paid promptly, we encourage you to begin the funding application process as soon as you've been accepted into your course and have received an invitation to apply.

Please bear in mind that your application for funding and support will be evaluated on an individual basis. Therefore, it's crucial to thoroughly review our guidelines and ensure that all necessary information is included.

Before diving in, take a moment to review the most frequently asked questions regarding course fees payment and the process of applying for student funding support.

Please note that the below link is for August 2023 and January 2024 starts only. A new link will be provided in the coming weeks for August 2024.

Start your funding application today

There are many ways in which you can fund your course fees. For students typically residing in Scotland and pursuing studies there, full-time course fees are often exempt. More details about full-time and part-time courses can be found below.

Students who are enrolled on a full-time, FE (also known as a ‘non-advanced’) course will have their course funded by the Scottish Funding Council if all of the following conditions apply:

You have been a resident in the Scotland or UK for the last three years
Meet all necessary residency criteria
You reside in Scotland on the 24th August of the year the course begins

Applications should be made through the colleges Student Funding application portal.

Students who are enrolled on a full-time, HE (also known as “advanced”) course should apply to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) for their fees to be paid at www.saas.gov.uk

If you are a student who does not qualify for their fees to be paid by SAAS, at online enrolment, you will be asked: ‘How are you paying your tuition fees’, please select either:

Self Financing OR
Self Financing Instalments.

If you select Self Financing, you will be required to pay your tuition fees IN FULL before you can complete your online enrolment.

If you select Self Financing Instalments, you will be required to pay the 1st instalment of your tuition fees before you can complete your online enrolment. Please email finance@nclan.ac.uk to set up the remainder of your instalments via a Standing Order Mandate.

Withdrawing from course

If you are thinking of withdrawing from your course, you must do so by officially contacting your department and the Finance Department, as you may be charged a pro rata fee up to and including your withdrawal date, even if you are SAAS funded.

Terms and conditions for the payment of tuition fees (download link needed)

Fee Waiver

A student who is in receipt of Benefits (satisfies the residency requirements) and is enrolled on either a Part-Time Further Education (non-advanced) course or a Part-Time Higher Education (advanced) course should complete a College Fee Waiver to cover the cost of the course.

At online enrolment, you will be asked: ‘How are you paying your tuition fees’, please select Fee Waiver.

For Audit Purposes, all students must provide the College with official documentary evidence as appropriate, from:

Department of Work and Pensions
Job Centre Plus
Inland Revenue
Local Authority
MoD
Home Office

You must upload this documentary evidence when completing your online enrolment. The information will then be checked by the Finance Department.

Individual Training Account (ITA)

You could receive up to £200 towards a single course or training episode per year. ITA funding could be right for you if you are:

Aged 16 or over
Not in education or involved in any other SDS funded programme
Unemployed and looking to get back into work
Employed, earning less than £22,000 per year and looking to progress in or change your job
Resident in Scotland

Please make an application directly with My World of Work.

SAAS Part-time Fee Grant (PTFG)

A student who has enrolled on a Part-Time Higher Education (advanced) course can apply for a SAAS Part-time Fee Grant to cover part of your course fees.

To receive funding, you need to:

study an eligible course
meet our residence criteria
earn less than £25,000 per year in gross income (before tax and National Insurance) in the tax year ending 5 April 2023, including bonuses and overtime
have left full-time compulsory education, such as high school

To make an application please visit https://www.saas.gov.uk/part-time

Self-Financing

A student who does not qualify for any of the above funding will be required to pay for their course. At online enrolment, you will be asked: ‘How are you paying your tuition fees’, please select either:

Self Financing OR
Self Financing Instalments (only if the cost of the course is greater than £150)

If you select Self Financing, you will be required to pay your tuition fees IN FULL before you can complete your online enrolment.

If you select Self Financing Instalments, you will be required to pay the 1st instalment of your tuition fees before you can complete your online enrolment. Please email finance@nclan.ac.uk to set up the remaining of your instalments via a Standing Order Mandate.

The College Policy for Refunds and Withdrawals represents a fair way of treating students and simultaneously protects the College from financial loss. It is not the policy of the College to refund fees automatically and refunds may only be considered under limited circumstances.

Download a copy of our Refund and withdrawal Policy.

A bursary is a grant that you don’t need to pay back that may be used to assist with living costs during your time at college. The bursary is based on household income so not all students will qualify for it.

Full-time students on a further education course can apply but funding will be allocated depending on age, household income and personal circumstances.

Bursaries can help with the cost of living while taking on a further education course.

There are various conditions for receiving a bursary and the amount of money you receive is based on your personal circumstances, which will need to be proven with evidence. These include:

If you are 18 or over at the start of your course
Your household income
Your living situation

The maximum rates for bursary are:

Self Supporting Students		£125.55 per week
Parentally Supported Students	£99.35 per week (living at parental home)	£99.35 per week (away from parental home)
Student in receipt of Universal Credit		£28.00 per week

Care Experienced Award

£225 per week

How do I apply?

After accepting a place on your course, you will be sent a link to set up an account to apply for funding. You can also click on the 'My Funding' section of MyNCL Student Portal to access your account.

Self-employment certificate

If you have a parent or guardian who is self-employed, please complete the Self-Employed Income Certificate form.

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) administers two small bursary funds for Higher Education (HE) students in addition to their Student Loans. Refer to the “How Do I Apply” section, below, for the link to the SAAS website. The College Bursary fund is restricted to Further Education (FE) students only.

Who can apply?

Full-time students on a higher education course from low income homes can apply. See the links below to see what kind would suit you.

How do I apply?

To find our more and to apply for either a 'Young Person's Bursary' or 'Independent Students' Bursary' please visit https://www.saas.gov.uk/full-time/undergraduate/funding

The EMA is a weekly allowance that is paid during term-time to assist with cost of lunches, books and equipment.

The EMA is now available to full and part-time students aged under 18 at the start date of the course are eligible to apply. The award is dependent on household income and students must appropriately engage with their studies and attend all classes where possible.

The EMA is a means-tested weekly allowance for students and payments are made every fortnight during term-time.

See the table below to see if you are eligible:

Income	No. of dependent children in household*	Award
£0 - £24,421	1	£30.00
£0 - £26,884	2+	£30.00
£24,244 or above**	1+	NIL

* A dependent child is one who is 16 or under or is between 16 and 25 years old and is in full-time further or higher education.

** You are still required to complete the online application, as you may still be eligible for travel and/or course expenses, as this is not dependent upon household income. You are only required to provide us with proof of identification, e.g. birth certificate or passport.

Part-time EMA is not eligible for Travel or Study Expense items.

The College can offer help with the cost of travelling to the College, or provide transportation. Any student can apply but conditions will vary depending on circumstances.

Travel expenses will be provided if you:

Live more than two miles from the campus you will be attending
Are 22 or over and have a low household income

Please note that students under the age of 22 qualify for free bus travel via the Scottish Government. You can apply for your free bus travel by visiting www.transport.gov.scot

Further Education (FE) students aged 22 and over can be assessed for travel expenses as part of their online bursary application and you will be asked for more information and evidence. Students under the age of 22 can apply for a Young Scot travel card.

HE students who have applied for a Student Loan via SAAS have an element of travel included in the loan to cover travel costs.

Coatbridge and Cumbernauld Campus

If you require support for travel due to an Additional Support Need please contact Lorna.Ashe@nclan.ac.uk or phone 01698 232470.

Motherwell Campus

We run transport to and from our Motherwell Campus from most outlying areas. If you are experiencing difficulty using public transport you may be eligible to use this service.

College transport is funded through your bursary/EMA and would be provided in lieu of travel expenses. Buses arrive on campus at 08.30am and leave again at 4pm.

To apply, please complete our Motherwell Campus transport application form.

If you wish to be considered for taxi transport support, it is important that your all application is submitted as early as possible before the start of the academic year.

To apply, please complete our taxi application form.

Assistance for students in financial difficulty as a result of attending college.

All students with household income below £26,000. If you are on income based benefits, you will need to check with the DWP (Department Work and Pensions) if any award would impact on your benefit claim.

Discretionary Funds provide non-repayable assistance for students in financial difficulties in order for them to access and/or continue in education.

This is paid in addition to any other forms of student support.
Priority will be given to full-time students with childcare and/or housing costs, however all students who can provide evidence of hardship will be considered.
Applications for financial assistance from the Discretionary Fund will be accepted from students who are experiencing financial hardship, as a result of attending college, or whose financial circumstances prevent them from studying.
If you have a household income of over £26,000 you will not be eligible to apply for this fund.

After accepting a place on your course, you will be sent a link to set up an account to apply for funding.

FE students will need to submit a Bursary application before they can make an application to the Discretionary Fund.

HE students should first apply to SAAS for their fees, Bursary and Student Loan – and then complete a Discretionary Fund application. HE students will need to provide evidence that they have applied for the maximum Bursary/Student Loan available.

A Emergency Fund may be available to provide short-term loans to students who experience unavoidable financial emergencies. Conditions apply and evidence may be required.

All students can apply, with the exception of Day Release and Evening students.

If you face financial hardship please speak to your Student Adviser who will provide you with the best options. Please note that the Welfare Fund cannot be used to subsidise or support college funding. Please note that the Emergency Fund is a maximum of £30 and can be used for expenses such as travel etc.

Download a copy of our Emergency Fund Policy.

The term “care-experienced” refers to anyone who has experienced a certain form of care in their life (sometimes known as having been ‘looked after’). This care may have been provided in many different settings as outlined in the care-experienced bursary eligibility form and guide.

When you get an offer of a place on a course, the College will automatically send an activation email to the email address provided on your course application form. Once you have completed the form and this is submitted, we will make an assessment for the type of funding you are eligible for.

You only need to fill out one form. We will assess which type of funding you are eligible for, including travel expenses and course materials, based on your age and personal circumstances. If we require more documents to finalise your award we will send an e-mail or letter requesting the documents.

All funding applications are mobile friendly so don’t worry if you do not have a computer you can use a tablet or your mobile phone. The Student Funding team are always on hand to help. You can email student.funding@nclan.ac.uk to arrange an appointment to discuss your application.

It is really important to submit your application early to ensure you have your assessment before you start college.

Full time FE care-experienced students can apply through the College for the FE Care-Experienced bursary. The Care-Experienced bursary is £225 per week and we will pay you travel over and above this if you live more than two miles from your campus.

Any student who has been in care at some point in their lives can apply for this bursary. You will have to provide us with a letter from your Social Worker to confirm you have experienced care. We have staff who will help you access all the support available so please don’t worry.

Care-experienced students studying above SCQF level 6 must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for their funding. You can do this by visiting www.saas.gov.uk

If you're a new or continuing care-experienced student you can apply for a funding package of up to £11,400 including:

tuition fees
non-income assessed Care Experienced Students Bursary (CEBS) of £9,000
non-income assessed student loan of £2,400

From the 2024-25 academic year, the funding you can apply for includes a £2,400 Special Support Loan.

You may also be able to get help with your accommodation costs during the summer holidays with a Summer Accommodation Grant.

Help is available with your accommodation costs over the summer holidays which fall between each year of your course. The maximum payment for this is £105 per week. SAAS will pay this directly to the person that is providing you with accommodation.

If you submit your application by 30th June with no errors and with all supporting documents, SAAS have guaranteed an assessment before your course starts. It is really important to submit your form as early as possible.

Childcare funds are intended to provide non-repayable assistance for students with children in order for them to access and/or continue in education and are paid in addition to any other forms of student support. Childcare funds are supplementary to core sources of student funding such as bursaries and student loans.

Childcare awards will be not be made to any learner who has a spouse or partner who is at home during College hours and is able and available to look after the child/children.

All childcare providers must be registered with the Care Inspectorate.

The assessment process is based on need, and all funding is means tested against all household income. If you have a household income above £46,500 you will not be eligible to apply for this fund. This is in line with HMRC Child Tax Credit Assessment - https://www.gov.uk/benefits-credits/tax-credits.

The maximum financial support offered to students should not exceed college time and placement time (as defined in the Course Design Document) plus timetabled study time and travel time. In total, this must not exceed 40 hours per week nor 8 hours per day.

The funding award allocated to each child is limited to the college academic calendar (37 week period) and the total award per student will not exceed £16,000.

Discretionary funds are intended to provide non-repayable assistance for students in financial difficulties in order for them to access and/or continue in education and are paid in addition to any other forms of student support. Discretionary funds are supplementary to core sources of student funding such as bursaries and student loans.

Any student who is living in their own/shared accommodation may be entitled to assistance from discretionary funds to assist with their rent. To be eligible you must be able to provide your own tenancy and evidence will be requested to show that you are not in receipt of housing benefits. Please check your eligibility with Housing Benefit, as many young students can study and claim full housing benefit.

A small welfare fund is available to provide short-term loans to students who experienced unavoidable financial emergencies (e.g. due to a delay in receiving funding). If you face financial hardship please seek advice from the Student Advisers who are available in all campuses. Please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible and highlight that you are a care-experienced student.

As a consequence of the UK leaving the European Union, the conditions regarding course fees and visas have changed. Please see below for further information on:

Immigration Changes
EU Settlement Scheme
EU Course Fees

EU, EEA or Swiss Applicants

New EU, EEA, or Swiss students arriving in the UK after 1 January 2021 need to apply for a student visa before travelling to the UK.

International Applicants

All non-UK nationals, residing outside the UK, need to apply for a student visa before travelling to the UK.
The UK student visa is for students undertaking studies that last more than six months at a UK approved education institute. You can check if you need a visa to come to Scotland on the UK Government web site
The latest information may be found on the Government's website: UK points-based immigration system: EU student information.

Important note: NCL does not hold a licence to sponsor applicants who reside outside the UK and need a student visa to study in the UK

Standard Visitor Visa (up to six months)

If your course is less than 6 months long, you can study at NCL on a standard visitor visa.
Please contact International@nclan.ac.uk for further information on studying short-term courses at NCL.

Other Immigration Categories

Applicants residing in the UK on other immigration categories should note that some visas do not permit either paid or voluntary work, including the work placement element of college courses.
Please contact International@nclan.ac.uk for further information

EU citizens and their family members currently living in the UK.

If you are already studying in the UK then you (and your family) should have already applied to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK. If you have not already done so, you can apply now if you meet the criteria. The deadline for applying is 30 June 2021.

The EU Settlement Scheme will allow EU nationals to continue living in the UK with the same access to work, study, benefits and public services as enjoyed currently.

Find out more about the EU Settlement Scheme and on the UK Council for International Student Affiars (UKCISA) - International student advice and guidance.

2022/2023 Academic Year

EU nationals who are 'settled' or 'pre-settled' in the UK will remain eligible to apply for home tuition fees in 2021/2022, providing they meet the residency conditions.

If you don’t have ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status, you will be charged the full international fee for all courses, including those delivered by open and flexible learning.

Your success is our priority, and we're here to help you every step of the way. Get in touch today.

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