Most students studying part-time and on distance learning courses have to pay their own tuition fees. The reason for this is that many part-time students are in employment and are supporting themselves during their studies. Funding is available to help students who are on various benefits, on a low income or are disabled. All part-time students are means tested and if the taxable income of the student’s family in the previous financial year is equivalent or below the income threshold they will be eligible for free tuition (Fee Waiver). Colleges and Universities are free to operate their own policies on waiving fees subject to the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) condition of grant, however the cost of any fees waived by colleges and universities that are not covered by the standard fee grant policy will need to be met by the institutions themselves.
Colleges and universities have discretion to give extra support from their Discretionary Fund. They can use this flexible support for full-time and part-time students for study costs, travel costs and childcare costs and they base it on the individuals need rather than on fixed levels of income.
ILA200
The ILA200 offer provides up to £200 a year for learners to fund a wide range of courses. To qualify for this funding, you should be 16 or over and have an individual income of £22,000 a year or less. Many courses focus on vocational learning, however it also supports those learners furthest away from learning to do shorter pieces of learning to encourage a more lifelong learning approach.
ILA 500
The ILA500 offer provides up to £500 a year towards course fees. To qualify for this funding, you should be 16 or over and have an individual income of £22,000 a year or less. You also need to be studying a part-time Higher Education course, Professional Development Award (PDA) or Continuing Professional Development (CPD) at levels 7-11 of the Scottish Qualifications Framework (SCQF) and complete at least 40 SCQF credits per year. Eligible learners studying less than 40 SCQF credits may qualify for the ILA200 offer. This support also now extends to eligible students studying part-time taught postgraduate courses at SCQF Level 11.
You can use ILA funding with over 360 approved learning providers across Scotland, offering around 20,000 courses. These include colleges, universities, private training providers, voluntary and community-based providers and distance-learning providers. Application forms and further information including information on learning provider registration is available from the freephone ILA Scotland helpline on 0808 100 1090 or by visiting www.ilascotland.org.uk.