Who we are and what we do
We are a Government Agency. Our core function is the assessment of all forms of student support provided by Scottish Government for those entering and continuing in higher education. We have around 170 staff and handle over 150,000 applications every year.
For those wishing to access Higher Education, we:
- Provide information through the web and visits to schools, colleges and institutions on how student support can assist individuals access higher education.
- Assess financial support for tuition fees and living costs, including the special arrangements for nursing, taught postgraduate study and NHS bursaries.
- Pay tuition fees to institutions on behalf of the student and pay bursaries direct to the student.
- Provide resources and data to the Student Loans Company to allow payment of student loans.
- Assess student applications for additional assistance in the form of disability support and lone parent and dependant support.
- Provide funds to Scottish Universities and Colleges to further support students facing hardship or with childcare needs.
- Assess applications from individuals for the Part-time Fee Grant support and pay institutions on the individuals behalf.
We also:
- Assess applications from individuals and pay fees to learning providers under ILA200, as part of a partnership with Skills Development Scotland.
- Maintain a register of charities that offer educational endowments.
- Collect the Graduate Endowment fee (abolished with effect from 1 April 2008).
Our Standards of Service
Key Performance Targets
SAAS’s primary customers are eligible students and their families. Good performance for those customers will mean an accurate and timely assessment of the application for support – so that students have their award letters in advance of matriculation at their institution; with a payment schedule advising when awards will be paid. The performance of SAAS, is however, also impacted by when students submit their applications. The following target therefore balances processing performance with encouragement to students to submit applications early.
- All correctly completed applications received by 30 June to be processed in time for courses starting in the new academic session (earliest date 1 August).
SAAS must also provide clear expectations of the time-frame in which enquiries will be answered.
- All email or written enquiries to be resolved within 21 days.
- All formal complaints and appeals to receive a response within 14 days.