It is important to know about the different types of funding support available to you whilst studying at college.

You should apply for the relevant funding as soon as you can to ensure this is in place for the start of your course.

Please note - School pupils undertaking a school-college partnership course do not need to apply for funding. 

Tuition Fees

The following information is for Full Time students eligible for government funding.  If you are on part-time, evening or other non-bursary funded courses or a student who does not qualify for government funding please email student.records@forthvalley.ac.uk for further information and support with your tuition fees.

Please note, ITA Funding has now closed.

Full-time students can receive funding if their course progresses to or results in a qualification.

Part-time students can sometimes be eligible for travel and/or childcare funding.  Contact Student Funding at funding@forthvalley.ac.uk for further information.

In order to be eligible to receive funding, a student must meet the age, residency and previous study criteria.

Age

In order to be eligible to receive Student Funding, students must be beyond the statutory school leaving age. If you are under 16 when you start college, you may not be eligible to receive funding from the start of your course. Contact Student Funding for further information.

Residency

In order to receive Student Funding, you must have ‘home fee’ status. When you apply for your course, your residency will be checked and you will be informed if you have ‘home fee status’.

If you do not have ‘home fee status’, depending on your circumstances, you may still qualify. Please contact Student Funding for further guidance.

Previous Study

In order to be eligible for an award from the FE Bursary fund students must be the duration of support criteria.

First-time students (who have never previously been supported), including those who are on their first learning pathway as a continuing student, can be supported for the duration of their studies where they are showing appropriate academic progression in their FE studies.

The expectation is that you will usually be moving up through SCQF levels 1-6, but you can be supported to repeat levels if the college judges that this is the appropriate academic pathway.

You can be allocated an additional year (‘+1 year’) of support. This can be used for:

• An academic repeat year

• A medical or compassionate repeat year

Returner students who have previously completed a period of FE or HE study at least one full academic year ago, and who has already utilised their ‘+1 year’ of support may be supported for an additional period. However, this is subject to the appeal process.

This can include students who already hold a qualification at the same or a higher level than the course they are enrolling in.

Any previous ‘fees-only’ awards, or support for received while aged under 18 (including, EMA, SAAS, or bursary awards) will be disregarded when determining a student’s duration of support.

For Higher Education SAAS funding eligibility requirements, please see the SAAS website.

Eligible students should apply for a Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG) via the new SAAS online application service.  Information for part-time students on the SAAS website has been updated to help facilitate the new online process and includes answers to some frequently asked questions.

How to apply for your part-time fee grant:

• Contact the relevant teaching department to discuss course units to be undertaken.
• Complete a college enrolment form with the unit codes provided by the teaching department - these unit codes should be included on the form.
• Email the College enrolment form to the PTFG mailbox (PTFG@forthvalley.ac.uk) and request the tuition fee amount and total number of SCQF points allocated to course units.
• Once Student Records reply with the above information for fees and credit point value, you can then complete your online SAAS application for the PTFG.
• Set up an online SAAS account (SAAS Account) and complete the online application for funding.
• SAAS will then be in contact with regards to your application and any income evidence required.
• You will still have a portion of tuition fees to pay to the College, and an initial payment of 30% must be made prior to being fully enrolled on the course.

All students, including continuing students, applying for Part-time Fee Grant Funding must now apply using the above process.

Failure to comply with the above can result in disciplinary action such as funding payments being withheld, funding being reclaimed or stopped altogether.

In addition to funding, you can also get help with your finances while at college.

Student Assistance Fund

While you are a student, if you find yourself in financial hardship you can apply for a payment from the Student Assistance Fund. This can be due to unexpected costs or bills. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis for reasons such as:

• Additional travel expenses
• Books and equipment
• Accommodation
• Emergency situations
• Disability related costs
• Holiday childcare costs
• Unexpected living costs

Financial Advice

In addition to receiving money from the college while studying, you can access other resources.

Student Information Scotland – This website can be used to find out about your financial options while studying and information about other government resources you can access. The site also includes budget and funding calculators.

Money Map – This website from Citizen’s Advice can guide you on how to maximise your money, reduce your bills and meet the cost of living.

If you need specific advice or support, you can contact the Student Funding Team directly.