Other funding

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Discretionary Funds

Discretionary Funds are available for students studying Further Education or Higher Education courses.  They are primarily for emergency use and cases of financial hardship.  They may be awarded as emergency payments or to help with accommodation costs for single students who have no eligibility for Housing Benefit or payment of housing costs through Universal Credit.

Students will be able to apply online to the College for Discretionary Funds from mid-July 2023. Please see the College’s allocation guidelines for the Further Education and Higher Education Discretionary Funds below.

For more information about Discretionary Funds, please contact our Student Funding Adviser at StudentFunding.Perth@uhi.ac.uk

Further Education Discretionary Fund Allocation Guidelines content

Further Education Discretionary Fund Allocation Guidelines

Further Education Discretionary Fund Allocation Guidelines

Full-Time Further Education Students

Award Category

Maximum Weekly Amount (£)

Accommodation

£70.00 for single students not in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payments for housing costs.

Travel

£20.00

Emergency Hardship

£300.00 one-off payment for students with household income less than £30,000 per year (Maximum 1 payment per term).

Books/Materials

One-off payment as applicable for the course.

Childcare

Variable up to a maximum award of £4,000 per Academic Year.

The maximum weekly amounts above may be waived at the discretion of the Head of Student Experience and/or Student Funding Adviser and students may receive an award under more than one of the above categories.

Emergency Hardship payments are made in a single instalment.  Students may make second or subsequent applications for an Emergency Hardship payment (one per term).

Payments for accommodation, travel or childcare are generally made monthly from September – May, although applications received after 1 December 2023 may not be backdated.  Childcare payments are made direct to the childcare provider.

Discretionary Funds are intended to be for students in financial hardship and are not considered to be an entitlement.  As such, we will look at all household income and expenditure when deciding how to allocate Discretionary Funds.

 

Part-Time Further Education Students

Award Category

Maximum Weekly Amount (£)

Books/materials

One-off payment as applicable for the course.

Travel

£20.00

Emergency Hardship

£300.00 one-off payment for students with household income less than £30,000 per year (Maximum 1 payment per term).

Childcare

Variable up to a maximum award of £4,000 per Academic Year.

The maximum weekly amounts above may be waived at the discretion of the Head of Student Experience and/or Student Funding Adviser and students may receive an award under more than one of the above categories.

Emergency Hardship payments are made in a single instalment.  Students may make second or subsequent applications for an Emergency Hardship payment (one per term).

Payments for travel or childcare are generally made monthly from September – May, although applications received after 1 December 2023 may not be backdated.  Childcare payments are made direct to the childcare provider.

Discretionary Funds are intended to be for students in financial hardship and are not considered to be an entitlement.  As such, we will look at all household income and expenditure when deciding how to allocate Discretionary Funds.

Higher Education Discretionary Fund Allocation Guidelines content

Higher Education Discretionary Fund Allocation Guidelines

Higher Education Discretionary Fund Allocation Guidelines

Full-Time Higher Education Students

Award Category

Maximum Weekly Amount (£)

Accommodation

£45.00 for single students not in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit payments for housing costs.

Travel

£20.00

Emergency Hardship

£300.00 one-off payment for students with household income less than £30,000 per year (Maximum 1 payment per term).

Childcare (for students not eligible for Childcare Fund)

As per Childcare Fund guidelines, up to a maximum award of £3,000 per Academic Year.

The maximum weekly amounts above may be waived at the discretion of the Head of Student Experience and/or Student Funding Adviser and students may receive an award under more than one of the above categories.

Emergency Hardship payments are made in a single instalment.  Students may make second or subsequent applications for an Emergency Hardship payment (one per term).

Payments for accommodation, travel or childcare are generally made monthly from September – May, although applications received after 1 December 2023 may not be backdated.  Childcare payments are made direct to the childcare provider.

Discretionary Funds are intended to be for students in financial hardship and are not considered to be an entitlement.  As such, we will look at all household income and expenditure when deciding how to allocate Discretionary Funds.

 

Part-Time Higher Education Students

Award Category

Maximum Weekly Amount (£)

Books/materials

One-off payment as applicable for the course.

Travel

£20.00

Emergency Hardship

£300.00 one-off payment for students with household income less than £30,000 per year (Maximum 1 payment per term).

Childcare

As per Childcare Fund guidelines, up to a maximum award of £3,000 per Academic Year.

The maximum weekly amounts above may be waived at the discretion of the Head of Student Experience and/or Student Funding Adviser and students may receive an award under more than one of the above categories.

Emergency Hardship payments are made in a single instalment.  Students may make second or subsequent applications for an Emergency Hardship payment (one per term).

Payments for travel or childcare are generally made monthly from September – May, although applications received after 1 December 2023 may not be backdated.  Childcare payments are made direct to the childcare provider.

Discretionary Funds are intended to be for students in financial hardship and are not considered to be an entitlement.  As such, we will look at all household income and expenditure when deciding how to allocate Discretionary Funds.

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Childcare Funds

The Childcare Fund is to provide or fund childcare for students studying at College.  Eligible Further Education and Higher Education students can apply for help with the cost of childcare during term-time for days that the student is timetabled to be in class. 

Students will be able to apply online to the College for Childcare Funds from mid-July 2023. For more information about Childcare Funds, please contact our Student Funding Adviser at StudentFunding.Perth@uhi.ac.uk

Childcare Fund Income Eligibility Criteria content

Childcare Fund Income Eligibility Criteria

Childcare Fund Income Eligibility Criteria

Applications for assistance from the Childcare Fund will be considered on the receipt of all documentation requested.  As funds are limited, you are encouraged to apply for your funding early.

What you need to know:

  • Payment will be made to childcare providers rather than students.
  • You must use Care Inspectorate registered formal childcare providers.
  • Payment is for timetabled class hours only during term time.

The College will consider Childcare Fund awards under the following criteria:

Full-time Study – Weekly Childcare Fund Contribution Rate

Student's Household Income

% of eligible childcare costs paid

£0 – £45,000

100%

£45,001 – £60,000

50%

Over £60,000

0%

Part-time Study – Daily Childcare Fund Contribution Rate

Student's Household Income

% of eligible childcare costs paid

£0 – £45,000

100%

£45,001 – £60,000

50%

Over £60,000

0%

Notes regarding Childcare Fund awards.

  • It is expected that parents will use the Government Funded nursery provision for
    3 – 5 year olds.
  • Childcare awards can be adjusted for weeks on placement.
  • Payment can also be made when childcare is required due to course exams or assessments.
  • Part-time Higher Education students are not eligible for support from the Childcare Fund and should apply to the Higher Education Discretionary Fund for assistance.
  • Where your course is timetabled but the school is on holiday or has in-service days, your childcare award can be adjusted for the additional hours.
  • Award payments are for the duration of the academic year (your letter will show a total award for the year).
  • The income scales above may be waived at the discretion of the Head of Student Experience and/or Student Funding Adviser depending on student circumstances.

 

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Scholarships

There are a wide variety of scholarships available through the Perth College Development Trust.  For more information, please see our

The University of the Highlands and Islands also offer a variety of scholarships for students studying a Higher Education course.