If you are under 18 years old and living away from home you may be able to claim an EMA and part of the college bursary (the ‘away from parental home maintenance’ allowance – see below). Check with the college.

In general, if you are over 18 years of age the main way to get funding is by applying for a college bursary. 

You may also be able to apply for an Individual Learning Account (ILA) or Professional and Career Development Loan (PCDL).

College bursaries

Usually only students on full time courses (21 hours or above) lasting 18 weeks or more are eligible for a bursary. You must have lived in the British Isles for three years, and be living in Scotland on the day the course starts.

Apply directly to the college as soon as you have a place on a course.

Course fees are paid directly to the college. Other expenses are means-tested, so how much you get will depend on the income of your parents or spouse unless you are classed as a self supporting student.

If you are not living in the family home while studying you may be able to claim an ‘away from home’ allowance (see below).

Living costs - the maximum awards for living costs for 2013-2014 are:

                             Living at home                 Living away from home

Under 18 rate           £30 (EMA)                         £36.29 per week (in addition to EMA)

Over 18                   £72.24 per week                £91.30 per week  

Aged 25 plus or        Not applicable                    £91.30 per week

self supporting and

under 25                                                       

Bursaries for living costs are normally paid into your bank account every four weeks. EMAs are paid into your bank account every two weeks.

Whether or not you get an EMA or bursary for living costs, you may be eligible to claim for the following additional expenses. 

Travel expenses – you can apply for help with travel expenses if you attend an approved course of study, depending on conditions set by the college. If you have dependent children you may be able to get extra costs for travel. If you are under 18, this allowance will not be based on your income.

If you have additional support needs – a disability, learning difficulty or medical condition that means you face extra costs for special equipment or services (such as scribes or laptop computers) you can apply for an Additional Support Needs for Learning Allowance. This allowance offers help towards your travel and study costs, on top of other disability grants and benefits you might receive. It is not based on income.

Lead (Linking Education and Disability) Scotland produce a really useful free booklet called 'Helping You Meet the Costs of Learning: Funding for Disabled Learners' that you can download from their website at http://www.lead.org.uk/.

If you have children – students might be eligible to apply for Working and Child Tax Credits. Contact the Working and Child Tax Credit helpline on 0345 300 3900 for more information, or have a look at the tax credits website at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/. See below if you are a lone parent.

Colleges' Childcare Funds – you may be able to apply for help to pay for registered childcare. Funds are limited and priority is normally given to lone parents so apply as early as you can.

If you have adult dependants – you may be able to claim a dependant’s allowance if you have adult dependants (people you have financial, legal or care responsibility for) such as a spouse who is not working. In 2013-2014 the weekly allowance for an adult dependent is £52.04 if their weekly income is less than this.

If you are studying full time you may be able to claim exemption from Council Tax. In some cases you can apply for free school meals for your children.