Grants & Financial Help for Students
For Students, there is a Range of Grants and Financial Help:
There are several grants, bursaries, and allowances you may be able to apply for as a student. It’s important to ensure you are receiving everything you’re entitled to, as this can help manage your finances. The support available depends on your circumstances, such as disability, family situation, or the type of course you’re studying.
While the list below is not exhaustive, it provides useful examples of available support. Contact organisations at the end of this fact sheet for more information on funding opportunities.
Disability Students’ Allowance
This helps with the costs of attending your course and is available to full- and part-time students. It does not have to be repaid.
Support for Care Experienced Students
If you were looked after by a local authority (e.g., foster care, residential home) before turning 18, you are considered a Care Experienced Student. You may be eligible for a funding package of up to £11,400, including:
- Tuition fees
- A non-income-assessed Care Experienced Student Bursary (CESB) of £9,000 for eligible full-time undergraduate students
- A non-income-assessed student loan of £2,400
From the 2024-25 academic year, you can also apply for funding that includes a £2,400 special support loan. Additionally, a Summer Accommodation Grant may help with accommodation costs during the summer holidays.
Discretionary Funds
These are available to full- and part-time students facing financial difficulties or whose financial situation is preventing them from continuing their education. Contact your college or university student adviser for more information.
Childcare Fund
This fund helps pay for registered or formal childcare costs, such as childminders or after-school clubs. Although all students needing support can apply, funds are limited. Even if you are eligible, help is not guaranteed. Contact your college or university for more information on the relevant childcare fund.
Dependants’ Grant
This grant offers extra help with living costs if you are a full-time student supporting a financially dependent adult. The amount depends on your family income, and the grant does not have to be repaid if you complete your course. You can apply through your SAAS account, alongside your application for tuition and living costs support.
Lone Parents’ Grant
This grant offers additional help with living costs if you are a full-time student and raising children on your own. The amount depends on your income, and it does not have to be repaid if you complete your course. The maximum grant is £1,305 per year, and applications are made through your SAAS account.
Support for Students Estranged from Their Parents/Guardians
If you are under 25 and estranged from your parents or legal guardians, SAAS will not consider their income when calculating your funding. Estranged means you no longer have contact with them due to a permanent breakdown in your relationship. If there has been one-off contact while you’ve been estranged, SAAS will assess this on a case-by-case basis. There is a guide on the SAAS website on how to apply for this support.
Trusts and Charities
Various organisations provide financial help to students, especially those studying specific subjects or with links to certain geographical areas. You can search for grants at www.turn2us.org.ukor for scholarships at www.scholarships-search.org.uk.
In Dumfries and Galloway, grants are available for young people under 25 who need financial support to move their life forward.
