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- Tuition fees we will pay if you study in Scotland
- Tuition fees we will pay if you study in a UK institution outside Scotland
- Tuition fees 'cut-off' date
- Tuition fees for non publicly-funded institutions
- Tuition fees for students from abroad
- Tuition fees for sandwich courses
- Tuition fees for studying abroad
- Tuition fees for courses intended for graduate entry
Tuition fees we will pay if you study in Scotland
The standard rate of tuition fees you will be charged depends on what course you are doing as shown below.
- HNC, HND, or equivalent £1,285
- Degree or equivalent £1,820
Eligible Scottish domiciled students and EU students, studying at an institution in Scotland, are entitled to free tuition. We will not usually pay your tuition fees if you have previously been on a full-time higher education course and had help from public funds to do so (such as those who already have a degree or those who are repeating a period of study). You may not receive the Bursary or the Additional Loan during any session when we do not pay the standard rate of tuition fees.
Tuition fees we pay if you study at a UK institution outside Scotland
You will have to pay up to £9,000 each year towards your tuition fees. Most institutions will charge this but some may charge less. You should contact the institution you want to study at to find out what tuition fees they charge. You can choose to take out a student loan to pay all or some of your tuition fees. The amount of loan you can get does not depend on your own income or that of your parents, step-parents, parent’s partner or your husband, wife, civil partner or partner, as appropriate.
If you are eligible to apply for a loan to pay your tuition fees, and your course starts in the autumn term, you must apply for this before 31 March 2013. Special arrangements will apply for courses that start between 1 April 2013 and 31 July 2013. If this applies to you, we will let your institution know the appropriate closing date. You can also contact us for advice.
Tuition fees 'cut-off' date
We pay tuition fees direct to publicly-funded institutions for all eligible students who are attending their course at a specific 'cut-off' date (for example, 1 December for courses which start in autumn).
Whether or not we pay fees will depend on whether students are attending their course on or after the cut-off date. We will not pay tuition fees for students who withdraw before this date.
The cut-off dates for session 2012-2013 are as follows.
- 1 December 2012 for courses which start between 1 August 2012 and 31 December 2012.
- 1 March 2013 for courses which start between 1 January 2013 and 31 March 2013.
- 1 June 2013 for courses which start between 1 April 2013 and 30 June 2013.
If you transfer to another course or institution, we will pay the fee for the course and institution you are attending on the cut-off date. If your college or university charges a higher rate of fee for your new course, we will not pay the difference. Your college or university may charge you for tuition fees if you are not eligible for us to pay them.
Tuition fees for non publicly-funded institutions
The fees are generally higher and we will not pay the full costs. In particular, we will limit the fees for courses which are chosen for support by the Department for Business, Innovations & Skills (BIS) to £1,205. You will have to pay the difference if your institution charges you more than £1,205.
If the non publicly-funded institution is in a UK institution outside Scotland, you can apply to us for a non income-assessed loan of up to £9,000 to help towards the cost of your tuition fees.
Tuition fees for students from abroad
Institutions can charge a higher fee to those they consider to be 'overseas' students. This may be a UK national who has been living abroad for a number of years or a national from outside the UK or the rest of the EU who now lives in the UK. They do not base the conditions on nationality only but on the place of ordinary residence on the first day of the first academic year of the course. In order to qualify for fees at the lower 'home' standard rate of tuition fees, students must show a relevant connection with the UK . Tuition fees for overseas students can be around £4,000 to £15,000 a year. If you are not sure about the fees that your institution will charge, you should check with them before you accept the place they have offered you.
Tuition fees for sandwich courses
If your course involves a compulsory sandwich placement period in session 2012-2013, the fee we will pay to your institution will depend on whether your placement lasts for the full year or part of a year.
If you are on a placement for part of the year and are studying at your home institution for the rest of the year, the highest fee that either we or you should pay (whichever applies) is the standard rate for the level of course you are doing.
If you are on a placement for the full year we will pay 50% of the standard rate of fee for the level of course you are doing. Depending on the course and the institution this could be anything from £640 up to £4,500. This is a contribution towards the cost the institution has to pay for administrative and any other arrangements relating to the placement. You should check with your home institution if they expect you to pay the balance up to the standard or higher tuition fee amount.
Tuition fees for studying abroad
If your course involves a compulsory year of study abroad that is part of an exchange or you choose to study a year abroad as part of an exchange on a voluntary basis, we will pay the standard rate of fee for the level of course you are doing.
If you choose to study abroad and it is not part of an exchange we will pay half the standard rate of tuition fee for the level of course that you are doing.
If you study abroad for part of the year and are studying at your home institution for the rest of the year, the highest that either we or you should pay (whichever applies) is the standard rate for the level of course you are doing.