What is income assessment?
All support (not including the Disabled Students' Allowance, tuition fees in Scotland and a part of the student loan) depends on the level of your and your household income. We will assess what contribution you and who lives in your household should make to your tuition fees and living costs, as appropriate. Once we have worked out the contribution, we will apply it to your student support in the following order.
- Tuition fees (only if you are studying at a UK institution outside Scotland and you started your course before 2006-2007).
- Any income-assessed grants due to you.
- The income-assessed part of the student loan for living costs.
- Any travelling expenses due to you.
We will also use the gross household income (less certain allowable deductions) to work out your entitlement to the Bursary and the Additional Loan, as appropriate
Parents income
Do you take my parents income into account?
Yes, we take the following income into account and refer to is as the 'parents income'.
- If your parents live together, we will use both their income.
- If your parents are separated, divorced or no longer live together, we will use the income of the parent that you normally live with.
- If your parent lives with a partner or you have a step parent, we will use their income as well as your parents.
If you want to apply for the income-assessed (maximum) support available, we will take your parents' income into account unless you meet the criteria to be exempt from doing this. If you do not live with your parents but instead live with a legal guardian we will take their income into account instead. You will have to send us the relevant information that confirms you have a legal guardian.
If you want to apply for the non income-assessed (minimum) support only, your parents do not need to give us details of their income. This will be your tuition fees (unless you are studying at a UK institution outside Scotland and you started your course before 2006-2007) and the non-income assessed loan.
Why do you take my parents income into account?
Under the Family Law ( Scotland ) Act 2006, parents have a general obligation to support their children, depending on the particular circumstances of the case. This obligation also applies to children over 18 and up to 25 who are in further education or training.
How much do my parents have to contribute towards my support?
How much they have to contribute depends on what their income is. We use the gross income (income before any deductions), less certain allowances. If you are from a single parent family, we only need details of the income of the parent that you normally live with. If your parents' joint income is less than £23,660 a year we will not expect them to make a contribution towards your support. If their income is above this amount we will expect them to make a contribution.
What if my parents don't want to give you details of their income?
They don't have to. However, if they don't give us details of their income, we can only pay the non income-assessed support. This will be your tuition fees and the non-income assessed loan.
We will not pay any bursary or supplementary grants including travel expenses. However, you can still apply for the Disabled Students' Allowance.
What if I have no contact with my parents?
If you are not in contact with at least one of your parents we will need to see the appropriate evidence that explains why. For example a letter from a social worker, a police officer or a solicitor (which ever is relevant in your case) which clearly explains why you are not in contact with them.
Student's own income
Do you take my income into account when you work out what I am due?
If you are applying for a loan, bursary, grant or tuition fees, you must tell us the total income you expect to have during the academic year.
What we may take into account is any unearned income you have. For example, bank interest, trust income, maintenance payments paid directly to you and pension income. We will ignore some of your income up to set limits. Anything over the limits will reduce your entitlement to support, pound for pound.
If I work part-time while I study does this effect my support?
No. Any income you earn from working will not affect your support, no matter how much you earn, or whether you work during term time or the vacations.