Student Support

Students starting a full-time degree, or equivalent course, at a Scottish University in 2011/12 who satisfy the residential conditions, and have not been supported from public funds previously (see 1.5 below) will normally be entitled to claim tuition fee payment from the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). It is essential that students apply for assistance with fees through the SAAS: the most efficient means of applying is by visiting the online application service available at the SAAS web-site. The guide to student support which is designed to assist with the completion of the application is also available at the SAAS web-site.

1.2 Application Procedures

Students must apply to SAAS for assistance with tuition fees each year by completing the on-line application form. SAAS aim to send an acknowledgement of receipt of your application within 10 days. They aim to send an Award Letter (confirmation that tuition fees will be paid) within 21 days of receiving your application. If you have not received a decision from SAAS about your application by the beginning of term, the onus is on you to check that the application has been received and that you have supplied all the information necessary to enable your application to be processed. Alternatively, the progress of your application can be tracked by accessing the SAAS web-site address below.

Please note that if you do not have your Letter of Award at the start of session, you should call into the InfoHub when confirmation of support is received (so that it can be photocopied), otherwise the University will assume that you are personally liable for the full payment of tuition fees. It is also important to realise that you must apply to the SAAS every year of your course. SAAS aim to have your funding in place at the start of your course for all correctly completed applications received before 30 June 2011.

1.3 Student Loans

The Student Loan can be applied for using the same SAAS on-line application form which is used to claim assistance with tuition fees. Eligible students can apply for a means tested or non-means tested loan. The current loan amounts are published in the SAAS Guide to Student Support and can be accessed on the SAAS web-site. Loan payments are made on a monthly basis. Barring any computer system delays at the University or the Student Loan Company, the first instalment should be paid directly into your nominated bank account within 3-4 days after you have registered at the advising/registration session. It is important that you check that the payment has gone into your bank account BEFORE spending money. Thereafter, the monthly instalments will also be paid directly into your bank account. It is essential that the Student Loan Company has your correct bank account details.

Student Loans are repayable in the April after students leave their programme or graduate providing they are earning a minimum of £10,000. The payments are collected by the Inland Revenue.

1.4 Repeat or Previous Assistance

All students should be aware that eligibility to receive support is normally based on the minimum period of study required for your degree programme - 4 years in most cases (except, for example, MBChB, MChem, MEng and programmes involving a compulsory year abroad or industrial placement, where 5 years are required). If you have already had support from public funds - for example, for an HND which does not give you entry to year 2 of the degree programme - your support may be for 3 years only, so you would not get support for the first year of your degree programme and you would have to pay the tuition fees yourself.

1.5 Important Funding Information

It is essential that changes of subject that necessarily involve an extra year of study be reported to your funding body at the time the change is made. You should always indicate an actual or intended honours programme on your SAAS application form, unless you are quite certain that you do not intend to pursue an honours programme. However, any student whose degree intention changes (eg from BTh to BD, BEng to MEng, Non-Honours to Honours) after Registration and who as a consequence will require an extra year of study should contact the Registry as soon as possible so that the SAAS may be notified.

1.6 Further Support Available

SAAS also offer supplementary grants and a Young Students Bursary as well as assistance with travel expenses. Further information concerning eligibility is published on the SAAS web-site. There is also a Child Care Fund which is administered by the University and is designed to assist with formal child care costs. Application forms are available for collection from InfoHub after you have registered. There is a Hardship Fund which is administered by the Student Support Services section of the University and is intended to help students facing unexpected financial difficulties. Assistance is not available to pay tuition fees. The application forms are available to students at the start of session at the InfoHub and any award from this fund is not repayable.

1.7 SAAS Contact Details:

2 Students Domiciled in England, Wales & Northern Ireland

2.1 Tuition Fees

New Students

All students domiciled in England, Wales or Northern Ireland will be required to pay tuition fees of £1820 (£2895 for MBChB). You will normally, however, be eligible for a student loan to cover the cost of tuition fees. This means that, if eligible, you will not personally have to pay any tuition fees before completing your course.

2.2 Student Loans

In most cases the Student Loan should also be applied for through the relevant Student Finance authority. The maximum amount of loan for session 2011/12 is £4950 for students living away from home. 75% of the maximum loan is available to all eligible students regardless of your/parental income. The remaining 25% will be means tested. This will be assessed by Student Finance.

Student Loans are repayable in the April after students leave their programme or graduate providing they are earning a minimum of £10,000. The payments are collected by the Inland Revenue.

2.3 Repeat or Previous Assistance

2.4 Important Funding Information

It is essential that changes of subject that necessarily involve an extra year of study be reported to the funding body at the time the change is made. You should always indicate an actual or intended honours programme on your application to the LA, unless you are quite certain that you do not intend to pursue an honours programme. However, any student whose degree intention changes (eg from BTh to BD, BEng to MEng, Non-Honours to Honours) after Registration and who as a consequence will require an extra year of study should contact the Registry as soon as possible so that your LA may be notified.

2.5 Further Support Available

Certain groups of students may also be entitled to claim supplementary grants or allowances. Further information concerning eligibility is available from your Student Finance authority. There is a Hardship Fund which is administered by the Student Support Services section of the University and intended to help students facing unexpected financial difficulties. Assistance is not available to pay tuition fees. The application forms are available to students at the start of session from the InfoHub and any award from this fund is not repayable.

2.6 Student Finance Contact Details:

3 EU Students

Students from EU Countries are eligible to apply to SAAS for assistance with tuition fees. They are not eligible to claim student loans or from any of the bursary schemes. Further information about applying for tuition fees can be found at www.saas.gov.uk.

4 International Students

International students are not eligible to apply for UK Government assistance, nor will the University be able to assist with payment of tuition fees. Many international students are sponsored by their own Governments or private industry. Those who are not are deemed to be personally liable for tuition fee payment.

The standard International tuition fee rates for 2011/12 have been set as follows:

MBA	£13,500
Other Arts-based (postgraduate - excluding Business School programmes)	£10,500
Other Arts-based (undergraduate)	£10,500
Science-based (postgraduate)	£13,200
Science-based (undergraduate)	£13,200
Clinical Medicine (undergraduate)	£24,000

A guide to living expenses for International Students can be accessed at the following website.

All sponsored students must submit written evidence on letterhead paper as proof that their tuition fees will be paid by a sponsoring authority, otherwise the University will assume that the student is personally liable for the full payment of tuition fees.

Also, if the award-giving body fails to meet the cost of tuition fees, the student will become personally liable for full payment. In these cases a letter will be sent to notify the student that a personal invoice is about to be sent if the sponsor does not pay within 30 days.

If tuition fees, or any other debts to the University, are not paid by the time all examinations and assessments are passed, you will not be permitted to graduate.

Students with debt from a previous academic year are not permitted to re-register with the University. Payment in full is required and must be made prior to registration in September.

Student Support

1 Students Domiciled and Studying in Scotland

1.1 Tuition Fees

1.2 Application Procedures

1.3 Student Loans

1.4 Repeat or Previous Assistance

1.5 Important Funding Information

1.6 Further Support Available

1.7 SAAS Contact Details:

2 Students Domiciled in England, Wales & Northern Ireland

2.1 Tuition Fees

New Students

2.2 Student Loans

2.3 Repeat or Previous Assistance

2.4 Important Funding Information

2.5 Further Support Available

2.6 Student Finance Contact Details:

3 EU Students

4 International Students