Do I have to apply to you to get my fees paid?
Yes - you have to apply so we can pay them to your college or university on your behalf.
Your institution will ask you to pay the tuition fees straight to them if you have not applied to us to pay them. We will only pay tuition fees if we receive an application before the closing date (which is 30 June 2009 for courses which start in the autumn). If you start your studies in 2006-2007 or later and are studying in a UK institution outside Scotland you can apply for a student loan to pay your fees. You must apply for a loan to pay your fees before the fee loan closing date (this will be 31 December 2008 if your course starts in the autumn term).
Your application for us to pay your tuition fees is only valid for one academic session so you must make sure that you apply every year. If you are not in attendance at your institution but are instead doing a work placement or studying abroad as part of your course, you must still apply to us to have your fees paid.
Will you pay my fees?
Eligible Scottish domiciled and EU students studying in Scotland are entitled to free tuition. We will pay tuition fees straight to your institution.
Eligible Scottish domiciled students studying at a UK institution outside Scotland may have to pay up to £1,255 towards their fees if they started studying in 2005-2006, or earlier. If your parents' income is more than £23,660 we will expect them to make a contribution towards your fees. If your husband's, wife's, civil partner's or partner's income is more than £20,120 we will expect them to make a contribution towards your fees.
Eligible Scottish domiciled students studying at a UK institution outside Scotland who begin their course of study in 2006-2007, or are returning after a break in study, may have to pay up to £3,145 towards their fees. You can choose to take out a student loan to pay your fees. The amount of loan you can get does not depend on your own income and that of your parents or your husband, wife, civil partner or partner, as appropriate.
If you are not a Scottish domiciled student studying in Scotland you should apply to your Local Education Authority for help with your fees.
You may not be entitled to tuition fees if you are repeating any period of study or have done a course of higher education before.
Sometimes an institution may charge fees that are different from the standard rates. 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.
Will the fees you pay, or I have to pay, increase each year?
Yes. In general, tuition fees increase in line with inflation each year.
Do I have to pay top up fees?
You will only have to pay variable fees if you are studying at a UK institution outside Scotland and start a course in 2006-2007 or later, or returned to your studies after a break in your studies of a year or more. If you start your course in session 2005-2006, or earlier, at any institution in the UK , you will not have to pay variable fees for the duration of your course. However, if you take a break in your studies you may have to pay variable fees from the academic session you restart your studies.
If I have to pay my own fees, how do I do this?
You should discuss the payment of your fees with your institution. In general they will let you pay your fees in instalments.
If you are studying at a UK institution outside Scotland and start a course in 2006-2007 or later, or returned to your studies after a break in your studies of a year or more, you can apply to us for a loan to pay your fees.
Can I get any help with the tuition fees other than loans?
New Scottish students studying at a UK institution outside Scotland can apply for a non income-assessed loan for fees. There is no other form of support available from public funds.
What fees will I have to pay if I want to go to a Welsh or Northern Irish institution?
The level of fees is determined by each institution, and is set at course level up to a maximum of £3,145. You should speak with your institution if you are not sure what fees they will be charging.