There are two main funds which provide further education (also called non-advanced) student assistance with living expenses.  These are the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for students who are under the age of 18 years at the official start date of their course and the Further Education Bursary Fund for all other students at non-advanced level.

Bursary and EMA applicants can click the following link to download our Get Prepared for your Funding Application quick reference. You can keep it and print it out.
You can also click the following link to see Examples of Documentation that you may be asked to provide in support of your funding application.

About the Funding

FE funding can cover any full-time course at SCQF Level 6 or below such as:

  • National Certificate (NC)
  • Introductory
  • Access
  • Certificate
  • National Progression Award (NPA)
  • Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ) up to level SCQF 6
  • SVQ Level 3 Professional Cookery (Patisserie and Confectionery)
  • Diploma (VTCT)
  • Any full-time course at SCQF level 6 or below

If you are undertaking a full-time FE course we advise you to complete the online EMA/Bursary application to allow us to identify if you are eligible for living costs, travel and/or course expenses allowance.

Funding to help with childcare or housing costs may be available.

Click the following link for information about travel assistance.

An EMA is usually awarded to students who are under 18 years of age at the official start date of the course. You cannot receive an EMA until you have reached your school leaving age. In some circumstances, a student who is under 20 years of age may be awarded an EMA instead of a Further Education Bursary.

How much will I receive?

EMA awards will be paid according to the total taxable household income. Provided your attendance is 100% each week, we will pay you every two weeks, in arrears into the bank account stated on your application.

EMA is not paid during the holiday periods.

IncomeNo. of dependent
children in household*
Award
£0 - £24,421 1 £30
£0 - £26,884 2+£30
£24,422 or above**1£0
£26,885 or above**2+£0

* Dependent children are all those up to the age of 16 and those over the age of 16 and up to the age of 25 if they are in full-time education and training.

** Although you may not be eligible for EMA, you may still be eligible for assistance with course expenses. You must complete the online application in order for us to assess this. You are only required to provide us with proof of identification, e.g. birth certificate.

If you live away from the parental home you may be eligible for an additional means-tested allowance of up to £49.91 per week (subject to change). This will be assessed based on the information you supply on your online application.

A Further Education Bursary is usually awarded if you are 18 years of age or older at the official start date of the course. This type of funding is a discretionary award and is not a loan.

If you have previously received funding for any full-time course and you were 18 years of age or older, please contact our Student Services Team at guidance@dundeeandangus.ac.uk to check your eligibility for further funding before starting your course. The amount of money you receive is based on your personal circumstances, e.g. age, where you live, your dependents and your parent(s)/guardian/partner income.

How much may I be entitled to receive?

The maximum rates for bursary are:

Age of student Living in parental home
(weekly)
Away from parental home
(weekly)
18-24 £99.5£125.55
25 & over or selfsupporting

Not applicable £125.55
Care Experienced

£225.00£225.00

How much you may receive is calculated depending on the household income for the complete tax year 2022/23, before the start date of your course (please see Household Income section). The tables below are examples of income and amounts that would be deducted from the weekly allowances (shown above).

Further Education Bursary is paid during all scheduled holidays with the exception of summer break.

If you are in receipt of Universal Credit, and are eligible to continue to receive this whilst at college, you will be considered for a weekly allowance of £28.00 instead of the above weekly allowance.

Do you receive unearned income?

Your award may be affected if you receive any unearned income during the time you are studying. Please note that Child Tax Credit and Child Benefit are not taken into consideration, however, Working Tax Credit and other benefits can affect your award. Any unearned income over £24.19 per week will impact on your weekly Bursary.

Do you qualify for self-supporting status?

To qualify for self-supporting status you must be able to provide evidence for one of the following conditions:

  • You must be married or living with a partner or
  • Have no parents living or
  • Estranged from your parents or
  • Caring for a child dependent on you or
  • Have supported yourself for periods totalling no less than three years

What is Dependents’ Allowance and do I qualify?

This is an allowance for an adult dependent who is not eligible to claim any benefits. The weekly amount is £67.55. This allowance is means tested against household income.

You should apply as soon as the funding link appears on your Online Application home page.

You can apply for funding via your online application account. Click the following link to login to your online application account.

You must select the Bursary/EMA tab from your Home Screen and click new application

If you fail to submit your application and provide all requested documentation within 6 weeks of the start date of your course, you will not receive any back dated payments.

If you require assistance to complete your online application please contact our Student Services Team at guidance@dundeeandangus.ac.uk or visit your local campus help point.

You should apply as soon as the funding link appears on your Online Application home page.

Failure to submit your application and all requested documentation before the start of your course will result in a delay in any funding for which you may be eligible.

Applications and all correct documents must be submitted no later than six weeks after the official start date of your course.

Funding will not be backdated if your application or requested documents are submitted later than six weeks after starting your course.

What we need to know about you

To be considered for funding you must satisfy the residency requirements, which are set out in the Further Education Bursaries (Scotland) Direction and the Education Maintenance Allowance (Scotland) Direction.  In most cases, if you have been ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom for the three years immediately before the official start of your course and are resident in Scotland on the official start date of your course, you are likely to be eligible.  Eligible students do not pay tuition fees.

Students from the European Union (EU) can apply to get their fees paid but may not be eligible for a bursary or other college funding if you do not meet the above residency requirements. Students from the EU or the EEA (European Economic Area)  must have either settled status or pre-settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) by 30 June 2021.  You will be asked to provide your share code to enable the college to check your status.

If you do not think you meet this general residency criteria there are a number of special areas that can be explored.  Please contact Student Services if you think you may come into this category.

For Bursary/EMA Candidates

To be treated as a Scottish home student you must meet all three of the following conditions:

  1. Ordinarily live in Scotland on the relevant date (this is usually the official start date of your course) and
  2. You’ve been living in the UK for 3 years before starting your course (we will ask you to provide evidence of this from the Local Authority or HMRC) and
  3. You’re a UK national or have ‘settled status’ (no restrictions on how long you can stay)

If you do not meet all three of the above conditions, you may still be eligible for some elements of support if you meet the requirements of one of the other UK residency categories listed:

  • You’re an EU national, or family member of an EU national with settled/pre-settled status
  • You’re a refugee
  • You’re under humanitarian protection (as a result of a failed application for Asylum)
  • You’re a migrant worker or a family member of a migrant worker
  • You’re a child of a Swiss national
  • You’re a child of a Turkish worker
  • You’re a Syrian Refugee
    Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Scheme (VPRS) Fact Sheet
  • You’re under the Ukraine Schemes

Please be aware that there are exceptions to the above therefore please contact our Student Services Team for further help to arrange an appointment email heretohelp@dundeeandangus.ac.uk

Estranged mean that you are not in contact with your parents and that there has been a permanent and irrevocable breakdown in your relationship and there is no sign of this being resolved in the near future.

We will require evidence of verify that you are estranged.  This may be from someone in authority who knows the family well enough to confirm the position but it must not be a family relation.

Where you are estranged and receiving Universal Credit and you are under 21 years (or you turn 21 on your course) you can remain on your Universal Credit.

Care experienced students are eligible to receive the full Further Education Bursary award.

In some circumstances, Care Experienced students might be better off applying for an EMA. Our funding advisors can help you work out what is best for you. If you need advice, please get in touch with Student Services at guidance@dundeeandanguscollege.

What Care Experienced Means

Students with experience of being in care may receive a different funding package.

You will be considered as Care Experienced if you have ever been looked after by a UK local authority on a compulsory or statutory basis.  You will be required to submit a letter from your social worker confirming you have had, or currently have compulsory social work support.  The social worker will have to confirm which legislation and the section of the legislation that applies to you.

If you are unsure if this applies to you and wish to discuss this further please contact guidance@dundeeandanguscollege.[/alert]

Local Authority Care can be provided:

  • in the student’s own home
  • in their parent(s) home
  • in the home of relatives
  • in a foster home
  • in a care home or a residential unit
  • it also includes students who are living independently and students who are cared for under a kinship order

Students who are subject to a “private fostering arrangement” are not included as care experienced as the local authority is not providing the care. The Care given must be/has been under a compulsory order.

As a general rule full-time students do not qualify for payment of benefits.  However, certain students are eligible to continue to claim benefits even when they become a full-time student.  You must check with the Department for Work and Pensions to find out whether you will be allowed to remain on your benefit while attending college.

If your benefit is to continue when you are attending college you can apply for assistance with course expenses, travel costs and childcare (if appropriate) but you will not be granted any living allowance.  Students who can remain on Universal Credit may be considered for a £28.00 allowance but this is means tested against household income.

If you are unsure of your benefit eligibility you should seek advice from your local Department for Works and Pensions office.

Full-time students who may be entitled to remain on benefits include:

  • Lone Parents on Income Support who are not required to register for employment
  • Disabled students in receipt of certain disability related benefits
  • Certain students in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance
  • Certain students in receipt of Universal Credit

You will need to provide various types of information to support your application.  A checklist of this is provided on your submission email and a copy of the required evidence is stored within your online application under “Required Evidence”.

Please check the Examples of Documentation page for examples of some the documents the College can accept to support your funding application.

You can also download our Get Prepared for your Funding Application quick reference.

Please note that if you do not supply the information required then your application cannot be processed and you may not have your funding in place for the start of your course.

If you submit the required information later than 6 weeks after starting your course, any funding will not be backdated.

Checklist ItemEvidence We Can Accept
Proof of Identification Original Birth Certificate or Passport or Driving Licence or National Entitlement card (Young Scot card)
Asylum Seeker (student or family member) Verification from Home Office of Immigration Status, the student’s biometric card (both sides),or Home Office documentation
Evidence of Bank details required Bank Mandate
Parents’/Partners Child Maintenance Paid/Received CSA (Child Support Agency) documentation OR other legal documentation showing maintenance paid/received during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023
Parentally Dependent ChildrenOriginal birth certificate OR passport for each dependent child. If child is also attending college/university please also upload the Bursary/SAAS award letter for 2023/24
Income from Dividends/Shares Dividend/Share certificate for the period 6 April 2022– 5 April 2023
Parents’/Partner’s Gross Income from employment P60 certificate(s) for the period 6 April 2022– 5 April 2023 OR HMRC letter stating earnings for the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023 OR form SF3 completed fully with employers stamp for the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023
Parents'/Partner’s gross income from self-employment
Parents/partner’s SA302 from HMRC for Tax Year 2022/23 OR HMRC letter stating total earnings for Tax Year 2022/23 OR Form SF4 completed fully with accountants stamp. If parents/partner’s figures are not agreed with HMRC for 2022/23, upload the agreed 2021/22 SA302 and a written estimate for 2022/23. Please note we do not accept Tax Returns or Accounts
Gross Bank/Building Society Interest Bank/building society statement showing interest being credited to the account during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023 OR letter from the bank/building society confirming the amount being paid during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023 if the interest if over £100.00
Migrant Worker (student or family member) Migrant workers Contract of Employment and 3 most recent payslips of the migrant worker and if married your marriage certificate. If family member of migrant worker also need the migrant worker's share code from the European Settlement Scheme
Proof of residence in UK for last 3 years A letter from Council Tax Office confirming address/es OR letter from HMRC confirming work history. Must cover 3 years immediately before start of course
Other Parentally Dependent Children other than the student Original birth certificate OR passport for each child other than the student. If child is also attending college/university please also upload their Bursary/SAAS award letter for 2023/24
Other Taxable Income Proof of any other income received during the period 6 April 2022– 5 April 2023
Parental details with relationship not Mother or Father. Legal documentation stating who has responsibility for the student e.g. Child Benefit award letter in the Legal Guardians name OR Tax Credit Award Notice for 2023/24 in Legal Guardians name
Parent is single, separated, divorced or widowed. Parent’s Tax Credit Award Notice for 2023/24 OR Council Tax Demand Notice for 2023/24 showing single person discount OR Universal Credit statement showing single claimant (all pages). We do not accept divorce decrees
Under 25 claiming Self Supporting as single person For any 3 years evidence of income e.g. P60s OR Letter from HMRC confirming pay details OR letter from DWP confirming benefits received OR a copy of your formal rent agreement. Income from employment must be at least £3494.40 for each year
Parents’/Partners income from Social Security Benefits Letter from DWP showing the annual amount of benefit received during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023 OR from SF3 completed fully with DWP stamp OR three monthly statements for Universal Credit showing full statement of the breakdown, required for April 2022, October 2022 and March 2023. Statements for Universal Credit must show the name/s of the claimant/s.
Under 25 and claiming Self Supporting and married or living in established relationshipCouncil Tax Demand Notice for 2023/24 showing both names OR joint Tax Credit Award Notice for 2023/24 OR a current joint Benefit Award letter OR marriage/civil partnership certificate OR rent/mortgage statement in both names
No parents livingParent’s Death Certificate
Unemployed Claiming Benefits continuingStudent’s current benefit award letter from DWP, all pages of student’s Universal Credit OR form SF2 completed fully with DWP stamp
Parents’ Working and Child Tax Credit AwardYour parents’ Tax Credit Award Notice for 2023/24, all pages
Joint Working and Child Tax Credit Award.2023/24Tax Credit Awards Notice – all pages
Living in own accommodationStudent’s council tax demand notice for 2023/24 showing single person discount OR current Universal Credit statement (all pages) showing you have claimed for housing costs
Under 25, single and claiming self-supporting status with a dependent childStudent’s Tax Credit Award Notice for 2023/24 (all pages) AND child’s Birth Certificate
Proof of Household IncomeBank statements or other supplementary evidence (e.g. a P45) of how your parent(s)/you/partner have supported the household during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023. Please note that if you or your partner have ben in receipt of any income from employment of benefits we will require to see the annual income received in the tax year 2022/23
Child Maintenance paid/receivedCSA (Child Support Agency) documentation OR other legal documentation showing maintenance paid/received during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023
Proof of Income3 of the student’s current wage slips or if you are self-employed your most recent SA302
Parents’/Partner’s income from educationYour Parent/Partner’s Further Education Bursary Award Notice for 2022/23 OR SAAS Award Notice for 2022/23. Remember to upload evidence of income from benefits or employment for the period 6 April 2022– 5 April 2023 as funding from Bursary/SAAS does not cover the full 12 months
DWP Benefits ContinuingRecent letter from DWP showing benefit for the student OR - Universal Credit for student OR - Form SF2 fully completed by the DWP for the student. Universal credit - must show how this is broken down and student's name must be on documentation
Previous FundingPlease upload evidence of all previous full-time funding you the student received between August 2017 and the present date, e.g. SAAS award letters, College Bursary Award Letters, EMA award letters
Evidence of Term Time AddressPlease upload either the student’s Council Tax Demand Notice for 2023/24 for your term time address OR the student’s rent/lease agreement for your term time address
Established RelationshipPlease upload joint Council Tax Demand Notice for 2023/24 OR marriage certificate OR Joint Tax Credit Award Notice 2023/24 (all pages) OR household bill in joint names OR a current joint Universal Credit statement (all pages)
Change of CircumstancesChange of Circumstances
Concessionary Travel EvidencePlease upload a copy of the student’s concessionary travel card, evidence that the student has been awarded mobility payments (either DLA or PIP) or car as replacement for mobility payments
Single student not living aloneYour current joint lease or rent agreement
Joint Council Tax Demand NoticeJoint Council Tax Demand Notice for 2023/24
Proof of how student is supporting themselves prior to starting their courseStudent’s benefits letter OR most recent wage slips (must be dated within 30 days) OR most recent Universal Credit statement (all pages)
PensionsFor Private Pension, the P60 for 2022/23 For State Pension, the letter from DWP confirming the weekly amount and the number of weeks paid during the period 6 April 2022 – 5 April 2023
Siblings Award LetterIf your sibling is attending college/university please upload their Bursary/SAAS award letter for 2023/24
Care ExperiencedProvide a letter from your Social Worker confirming that you, the student, have had, or is currently under a supervision order at home or is/has been under care of Social Work department - social worker must confirm the legislation and section of the act which applies to the student. If you require help with this please contact support@dundeeandangus.ac.uk and our Student Services team will be able to assist you with this
Home Office DocumentationThe Student’s biometric card (both sides), or Home Office documentation
Evidence that Benefit has ceasedPlease do not close your claim until the start date of your course. At this point we will then require you to upload evidence from DWP that your Benefit/Universal Credit has now stopped. Must clearly show students name and date claim closed.

See also:

If your parents live together we will use both their incomes

If your parents are separated, divorced or no longer live together, we will use the income of the parent 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 the parent you live with

If you are married or live with a partner, we will use their income

If you no longer live with a parent but are unable to provide information to show that you have been self-supporting, we will use the income of the parent who last claimed Child Benefit for you.

We do not take any earned income you have into account, however, if you have any unearned income, such Working Tax Credit, income from property etc, we will take this into account as part of the student’s income.

What happens next?

On receiving your documentation a member of our team will review your application.  An award or request for further information will emailed to you, please ensure you check your emails.

Copies of all emails are stored within your Mailbox tab on your online application account.

Our current processing date is displayed on your Online Applications Home page for information.

You may be eligible for other funds when you start your course.  Please refer  to  “What other funding is available?” further down this page

We will require all requested documentation to be uploaded before we can make an accurate assessment of award.

During May – September we experience high volumes of applications, it could take up to 6 weeks to process your application.  Please ensure you submit your application and documentation as soon as possible.

Our current processing date is displayed on your Online Applications Home page.

You may be eligible for other funds when you start your course.  Please refer to the page   “What other funding is available?”

Log back into your online application account to view the status of your application.

As the Funding team assess your application against the documents received, the status of your application will change.  The current status can be viewed on the HOME screen of your application under the Bursary/EMA Section.

We may request further documentation to progress with your application, please ensure you check your emails regularly.

Emails we have sent to you are stored in the MAILBOX tab of your account.

The Assessment status is found on the Status Screen.  Each student should have a status.

StatusStatus meaning
Application CancelledApplication Cancelled
Fees, Books, Travel Award OnlyAn award for fees, books and travel has been issued. To be assessed for EMA please check your mail box
FEESOnly Fees will be paid for you. Please check your mail box
FINALAn award has been issued, please check your mail box
FURTHER (FI)No assessment can be made until further evidence has been provided
HNStudent is attending an HN course
PROCESSINGWe are currently assessing the information you have provided and will be in contact soon
PROVISIONALA provisional award has been issued. Further evidence is required once available . Please check your mail box
WITHDRAWNStudent withdrawn – Bursary Terminated

We will only communicate with you by email and/or text.

We will only send communications to the email address and/or mobile number you provided on your application. If these details have changed you must contact your campus Help Point or email heretohelp@dundeeandangus.ac.uk or phone: 0300 1231010

You should check your email messages regularly to see if we have contacted you.  You can also see any messages we have sent on your Online Applications Home Page and view them in your account Mailbox.

Any change to your circumstances must be notified in writing along with supporting evidence to Administration Services at heretohelp@dundeeandangus.ac.uk or can be handed in to any campus Help Point.

If you have any questions please email heretohelp@dundeeandangus.ac.uk.

More Funding Options

Childcare –   apply for this through the childcare tab on the funding application.  Please remember your childcare provider must be registered with the Care Inspectorate.  The College cannot assist with non-registered childcare.  Childcare funding is means tested and paid direct to the childcare provider.

Click the following link for more information on applying for childcare assistance.

Housing –   If you have a commitment to pay housing costs (your name must be on the lease/mortgage) you may be eligible for help with housing costs.   This assistance is means tested and paid direct to the student.  You can apply for this through the housing tab on the funding application.  Please note that some students can still claim housing benefit and therefore will be asked to claim housing benefit instead.

Click the following link for more information about applying for Housing Assistance.

Please note that you cannot apply for both Childcare and Housing assistance.

Financial Assistance –   The College has access to a small fund that can help students who may find themselves in extreme hardship while they are a student. If you feel this is the case once you have started your course please arrange to see a member of Student Services Team through the Advice Centre at your campus. The staff will help you to complete an online form to apply for a one off award. Staff will also check that you have applied for all your funding and if there is any other type of support that could help your particular circumstances.

Please note that all of our funds are cash limited and can close if the funds are over- subscribed.

Council Tax –  You are regarded as a “student” for council tax purposes if you are under 20 years old and on a non-advanced course of more than 12 hours a week and the course lasts more than three months.

If you are aged 20 or over you on either a non-advance or advanced course you are regarded as a “student” for council tax purposes if the course requires you to undertake periods of study, tuition or work experience of at least 24 weeks each academic year, for an average of at least 21 hours a week.

Please check with your own local authority about any council tax discounts you may be eligible for.

If you are studying full time in Scotland and meet the residency conditions, we will pay your tuition fees. If you do not meet the residency conditions you will be liable to pay your tuition fees, which may be at the international rate.

Do I meet the residency conditions?

The rules surrounding residency are complicated, however, the general criteria to be eligible for funding are, you the student, must be:

  • Ordinarily resident in the UK for three years immediately before the official start date of your course;
  • Settled in the UK as described in the Immigration Act 1971;
  • Ordinarily resident in Scotland on the official start day of your course.

The term ordinarily resident has been defined by the courts as “habitual and normal residence in one place”. This means that you live in a country year after year by choice throughout a set period. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education does not count as being ordinarily resident.

If you do not meet the residency criteria, you may still be eligible to apply to the College for funding. Please contact our Student Services Team for further advice and guidance.

If you are a non-Scottish UK national, and have moved to Scotland solely for the purposes of education, you are not eligible for tuition fees, living costs, and travel or course expenses. For support please contact your Local Education Authority or Northern Ireland Library Board. If you do not qualify for support from your Local Authority or Library Board, you will be personally liable for payment of tuition fees and supporting yourself throughout your studies.

If you are an EU,  EEA and Swiss nationals and family members, living in the UK by 31 December who wish to remain in the UK after the 30 June 2021 should apply to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) by this date.  Irish nationals do not need to apply to the EUSS.

Please refer to our Student Services Team if you are a refugee, asylum seeker or a rest of UK student.

If you are from Shetland or Orkney you must apply to your local authority to cover your living costs, travel and course expenses.

If you have not been ordinarily resident in the UK/European Economic Area (EEA) for the last 3 years, please contact our International Officer.

You may be awarded assistance with travel if you live more than two miles from the campus you will be attending.  Travel is only awarded for term time.  This means that no travel is awarded for the holiday weeks during your course.  Every young person under the age of 22 is now eligible for free bus travel throughout Scotland.  If you have not already done so, please complete your application for free travel by visiting – https://getyournec.scot/net

Students who turn 22 during their course will be considered for travel from the week you turn 22 provide you live more than 2 miles from campus.

If you are 18 or above at the official start date of your course, this assistance will be means tested against your household income.

Course expenses are for books and/or equipment you may need to study your course. The amount varies from course to course, and is not dependent upon household income if you are under 18 at the start date of your course.

If you haven’t found the answer to your question here then the quickest way to contact us is by logging into your account and sending us a message from your Online Applications Home Page Mailbox.  You can also email us at heretohelp@dundeeandangus.ac.uk (remember to put your name, date of birth and course title in the email so we know who you are) or call us on 0300 123 1036 or go to your campus Help Point.

AgencyPhone Number
HMRC0300 200 3300
HMRC (Tax Credits)0845 300 3900
Department of Work & Pensions0345 604 3719
Carer’s Allowance0845 608 4321
Dundee City Council Housing & Council Tax01382 431205
Angus Council Housing & Council Tax01241 435229
Fife Council03451 550000
Student Loans Company (SLC)0300 555 0505
Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS )0300 300 3137
Dundee and Angus College0300 123 10 10

  • Submit your application as soon as possible
  • Upload your supporting documentation promptly
  • Direct any questions to heretohelp@dundeeandangus.ac.uk
  • Budget for starting college
  • Ensure you keep your payment schedule and refer to this frequently.

Let us know if:

  • You change your address
  • You change your bank details
  • Your financial circumstances change
  • You change or leave your course
  • You change your email address or contact telephone number