Part-Time Students
Information and advice on the support available if you are to undertake PART-TIME STUDIES at Aberdeen College.
The information in this page is general in nature and covers a wide range of ways of financing part-time study at the College.
- Tuition Fee
- How do I claim Remission of the Fee?
- What if I am claiming Jobseeker's Allowance?
- Other Possible Sources of Funding
- Individual Learning Account (ILAs)
- Contacts
Tuition Fee
A Fee is payable for a part-time course. These Fees are published in the Part-time Guide and on the College website or they may be obtained by contacting the College Information & Booking Centre.
Remission of Fees – only available for eligible courses – please check Part Time Guide for details:
**Please note the information below relates to 2012/13 courses only and is likely to change for courses listed in the 2013/14 Part Time Guide (available late June/early July 2013)**
If you fulfil conditions relating to residence and if you fall within any of the following categories, you will qualify for Remission of Fees (i.e., you will not have to pay the Fee) providing the course is eligible:
(a) you are or your family is in receipt of:
• Income Support;
• Working Tax Credit;
• Pension Credit;
• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance;
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA); or
• Housing Benefit or
(b) you are in receipt of:
• Carer's Allowance (or carers who have an 'underlying entitlement' to Carer's Allowance but gave up the allowance to, for example, claim their pension);
• Disability Living Allowance;
• Severe Disablement Allowance;
• Attendance Allowance;
• Incapacity Benefit;
• Contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or
(c) the taxable income of your family for Tax Year 2011/12 was equivalent to or lower than:
£8,282: for households consisting of only one person
£12,395: for households consisting of a couple with no children
£18,977: for households with dependent children or
(d) you are an asylum seeker or the spouse or child of an asylum seeker or
(e) you are in the care of the Local Authority or are living in a foster home or children's home.
NB. Because places are limited, you are advised to apply for Remission of Fees under this section well in advance of the course start date.
How do I claim Remission of the Fee?
You will need to provide an appropriate document(s) confirming your or your family's circumstances or complete a Part-Time Funding Application Form when you enrol on the course.
Please note that, if you are a full-time student at Aberdeen College, you have no entitlement to have the Fee remitted for any part-time course you undertake.
What if I am claiming Jobseeker's Allowance?
Students who intend studying part-time at the College whilst claiming Jobseeker's Allowance are advised to check their situation first with their Adviser at Jobcentre Plus.
Other Possible Sources of Funding:
Fee Grant (Advanced (HNC/HND) Studies Only)
A part-time fee grant may be available to you if you are undertaking a part-time (including Open Learning) course at Higher National (HNC or HND) level and are undertaking between 30 � 119 credits.
Details of this fee grant and downloadable application forms are available on the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) website: www.saas.gov.uk/part_time/
Applications should be made directly to SAAS and, if your application is successful the fee grant will be paid directly to the College by SAAS.
Bursary (Non-Advanced Studies Only)
If you are undertaking studies at non-advanced level (below HNC or HND) and if you have qualified for Remission of Fees, you may be considered for the award of a Bursary from the College to address the cost of necessary course materials (books/etc) and travel. An application form may be obtained from the College's Information and Booking Centre (Tel. 01224 612330). If you wish to meet with a Student Funding Adviser to discuss your eligibility, please contact Learner Services Reception (Tel. 01224 612284) to arrange an appointment.
HE Discretionary Fund (Advanced (HNC/HND) Studies Only)
Assistance from the HE Discretionary Fund (for help with travel and course materials) may be available if you are undertaking studies at HNC or HND level. Information in this respect may be obtained by you arranging to meet with a Student Funding Adviser (Learner Services - Tel. 01224 612284).
FE Discretionary Fund (Non-Advanced Studies Only)
If the course you are undertaking is at non-advanced level (below HNC), you may be considered for financial assistance from the FE Discretionary Fund but you will require firstly to apply for a Bursary if you are in need of help towards such as course materials and/or travel. Please note that there is no guarantee that an application for help from Discretionary Funds will be successful. You may wish to meet with a Student Funding Adviser (Learner Services - Tel. 01224 612284) to discuss eligibility.
Childcare Fund
The College may be able to assist with the cost of registered childcare incurred by you in undertaking part-time studies. There is no absolute guarantee that assistance will be provided but you are encouraged to enquire about your eligibility. The conditions which apply vary depending on the level of study which you undertake. You may wish to meet with a Student Funding Adviser (Learner Services - Tel. 01224 612284) to discuss eligibility.
Individual Learning Account (ILAs)
Individual Learning Account (ILAs)
ILAs are administered entirely by Skills Development Scotland and you should visit their website for information and to apply: www.myworldofwork.co.uk/content/ila-scotland-funding-for-you
We regret that College staff are not able to advise applicants for College courses about ILAs. For example, staff cannot inform or advise applicants or members of the public on the eligibility of College courses for ILAs or inform or advise applicants or members of the public on their eligibility to apply, obtain or use ILAs. These are matters exclusively for Skills Development Scotland.
If you are interested in an ILA or what you can use it for, in general or specifically, please refer directly to Skills Development Scotland for advice.
We hope the College will be able to offer you the course of your choice but it is for you to ensure that you can make payment of the appropriate course fee. It is also your responsibility to provide the evidence required by the College that you are eligible to pay a reduced fee or obtain the course for free. Evidence of eligibility to pay a reduced (or no) fee or use an ILA as part payment needs to be given to the College at the time of booking/payment.
When you accept the offer of a course, you have entered into a contract with the College and it is your responsibility to settle the fee for the course by means acceptable to the College.
The College's decision on whether or not an ILA can be used for payment is final. Please note that an ILA will not be accepted as payment for a course after you have entered into a contract with the College.
Contacts
Student Funding Adviser Appointment
Learner Services
Tel: 01224 612284
Email: guidance@abcol.ac.uk
General Information
Aberdeen College, Gallowgate Centre, Gallowgate, Aberdeen AB25 1BN
Tel: 01224 612330
Fax: 01224 612001
Email: enquiry@abcol.ac.uk