Postgraduate Funding
From session 2012-2013 the current Postgraduate Student Allowances Scheme (PSAS) will be replaced with a repayable student support model. Eligible postgraduate students can apply to SAAS for a tuition fee loan to help with the cost of their fees (up to £3,400 for full-time students and up to £1,700 for part-time students).
Currently, around 2,700 postgraduate students are assisted each year under PSAS. The new arrangements will mean that up to 5,000 full and part-time postgraduate students will be eligible for repayable student support towards the cost of their tuition fees. Repayment commences after students graduate and are in employment, earning above the student loan repayment threshold, which is currently £15,000 year (£15,795 from April 2012).
There are no changes to the types of postgraduate qualifications we support. Only one year postgraduate diplomas and the 9 month taught element of some masters course will be eligible. Part-time study should be completed within two academic years.
The move to a tuition fee loan does mean that more students will be eligible to apply for postgraduate support from SAAS. We will publish the list of eligible funded courses for 2012-2013 on the postgraduate section of our website early next year.
The only students not affected by this change in 2012-2013 are part-time students who did the first half of their course in session 2011-2012 and had their fees paid by SAAS. They will remain eligible to apply for tuition fee support in 2012-2013 from SAAS under the existing arrangements.
Tuition fee arrangements for Scottish domiciled students studying in the rest of the United Kingdom
The level of tuition fee loans available to new Scottish domiciled students studying in the rest of the UK starting in session 2012-2013 have been set:
- For those attending a publicly funded Higher Education Institution in the rest of the UK - £9,000.
- For those attending a private funded Higher Education Institution in the rest of the UK - £6,000.
Continuing students studying at Higher Education Institutions in the rest of the UK, who started their course between 2006-2007 and 2011-2012 and who haven't had a break in study, will be eligible to apply for a tuition fee loan up to £3,465.