This four-part blog series is intended to help MSPs and their staff with queries they receive on student support eligibility and entitlements. It covers support for college and university students at all course levels, signposting readers to further relevant information.
This blog looks at support available for Further Education (FE) students.
Other blogs in the series cover:
- Eligibility and applying for funding
- Support for Higher Education (HE) students
- Benefits and student loan repayment.
Support for Further Education students
Colleges typically offer courses from SCQF Level 4 to SCQF Level 8. Learners can study Further Education (FE) courses at SCQF Level 6 or below such as National 4 and 5, Higher and vocational courses.
Students studying FE courses at colleges in Scotland may be eligible for financial help to cover tuition fees, living costs, study and travel expenses.
FE students must contact their college student support team to apply for support. Contact details for college funding sites can be found on the Student Information Scotland website.
Tuition fees
The tuition fee rate for FE courses for 2025-26 is £1,008. To qualify to have their fees waived, a student must be ‘ordinarily resident ’ in Scotland. Colleges apply a tuition fee waiver from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for eligible students.
Living costs, study and travel expenses
Students studying FE level courses can receive a non-repayable bursary to support them during their studies.
Students under the age of 18 are eligible for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) of £30 per week, with an additional weekly payment of up to £49.91 for those under 18 and living away from home.
Those aged 18-24 living with parents are eligible for up to £99.35 per week, while over-25s living with parents are eligible for up to £125.55.
All students aged over 18 and living away from home are eligible for up to £125.55 per week.
However, the amount of support FE students receive can be affected by household income. Further information on income thresholds can be found on the Student Information Scotland website.
Care-experienced FE students are eligible for a non-income assessed bursary of £225 a week.
Students may also be eligible for funding for:
- Study expenses such as specific clothing or footwear required for a course.
- Travel expenses if living more than two miles from college. Students with additional support needs are eligible to have travel costs covered no matter where they live. Students under 22 are eligible for the Young Persons’ Free Bus Travel scheme.
- Accommodation Allowance for those staying in college-approved accommodation. This replaces a student’s bursary and covers rent of up to £140.13 per week.
- There may also be help available for students with additional support needs. This is provided following assessment from the college student support team.
In addition, students in financial difficulty can apply to their college for additional funding via the discretionary fund.
To find out more about support entitlements, students can contact their college funding/support team.
Part 3 of this blog series explores support for Higher Education students in more detail.
By Lynne Currie, Senior Researcher (Further and Higher Education), SPICe