This section gives definitions to some of the terminology used on the site.
Academic year
A period of study of 12 months. The exact dates depend on when your course starts.
Allied Health Profession (AHP)
The allied health professions are those clinical healthcare professions distinct from the medical and nursing professions. Allied health professionals have to register with the Health Professions Council.
Civil partnership
A civil partnership is a legally recognised relationship that may be entered into by any 2 people of the same sex.
Continuous programme of study
Successive courses of study at Higher National Certificate (HNC) level and above without a break of one year or more.
Dependent student
A student whose parents', step-parent's or parent's partner's income we take into account.
Domiciled
The residence where you have your permanent home or principal establishment and to where, whenever you are absent , you intend to return; every person is compelled to have one and only one domicile at a time.
Eligible student
A student who meets our residence conditions and is on a course that we support.
Higher Education Course
A course that is at SCQF level 7 or above. This is usually a Higher National Certificate, Higher National Diploma or an undergraduate degree.
Income assessed
The amount of support you are entitled to depends on your own income and, if appropriate, that of your parents, step parent, parent's partner or your husband, wife, civil partner or partner.
Independent student
A student for which we do not expect their parents', step-parent's or parent's partner's to contribute to their support. Students must meet one of a number of conditions to be classed as independent. In general students who are over 25, are married, in a civil partnership or living with a partner or whose parents are no longer alive, meet the criteria. For full details of these conditions see our section on independent status.
Institution
Your place of study.
Ordinary residence
Ordinarily resident has been defined in the courts as 'habitual and normal residence in one place. It basically means that you, your parents, step parents, parent's partner or your husband, wife or civil partner or partner live in a country year after year by choice throughout a set period, apart from temporary or occasional absences such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident.
Partner
A partner can be the husband, wife, civil partner or a person ordinarily living with someone as if he or she were their husband, wife or civil partner.
Postgraduate
A postgraduate is a student who continues their studies after graduation. We only support certain postgraduate courses.
Previous assistance
This is where you have previously been on a full-time higher education course at HNC, HND, degree or equivalent level, and had help from public funds to do so.
Relevant date
To be eligible to apply for support, in most cases, the student has to be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date. The relevant dates are as follows:
- 1 August for courses that start between 1 August and 31 December
- 1 January for courses that start between 1 January and 31 March
- 1 April for courses that start between 1 April and 30 June
- 1 July for courses that start between 1 July and 31 July
Settled status
This means that you have the right to remain in the UK and have access to public funds.
Supplementary grants
These are grants to help towards the costs you have to pay due to your personal circumstances, such as a Dependants' Grant. You do not have to pay these back unless you lose entitlement to them.
Tuition fees
Tuition fees cover the cost of your studies and vary depending on the type of course you are taking and which institution you are studying at. Eligible students must apply to us each year to have their tuition fees paid.
Undergraduate
A university student who has not yet received a first degree.
Unused contribution
If you, your parents, step parent, aprent's partner or husband, wife, civil partner or partner have to contribute and that contribution is higher than the amount of income-assessed support you are eligible for, the amount left over is the unused contribution.