| The student loans system is slightly different in each | | | | related to your income you are, in my opinion better |
| individual country of the UK, having only ever been a | | | | off getting as much of a loan as possible to get you |
| student in Scotland I can only explain the Scottish | | | | through your studies and then you pay it back when |
| system. You can apply for a student loan from the | | | | you can afford it. |
| Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) if you | | | | As soon as you have your acceptance letter and all |
| are studying a higher education course, that is a | | | | the relevant information send your form away, SAAS |
| Higher National Certificate or above. | | | | are very busy and the later you send your form off |
| The process of applying to SAAS is fairly simple, | | | | the less chance there is of having your money by |
| once you have your acceptance letter from College | | | | your course start date. As you apply for your tuition |
| or University pick up a form from there, download | | | | fees through SAAS you really want to make sure |
| one from the SAAS website or you can apply online. | | | | you have your funding sorted out before you start |
| The majority of the form is fairly simple although the | | | | your course. Tip: send your form recorded delivery, I |
| part about your income and if applicable your parent | | | | made the mistake of sending my form regular mail in |
| or guardian's income is a little confusing. That is why I | | | | my first year and when I hadn't had my |
| recommend going to your college or university and | | | | conformation letter within two weeks and I called to |
| getting them to help you with the form. | | | | check it they said they hadn't received it and I spend |
| You will have to provide proof of your income along | | | | about another two weeks chasing it up. |
| with your parent or guardian's income if appropriate, | | | | Once you have your form sent away SAAS will send |
| you will also have to provide proof of your identity, | | | | you a conformation letter within two weeks to let |
| your birth certificate or passport will do and if I | | | | you know they have received it, then if they need |
| remember correctly they accept photocopies. | | | | additional information they will contact you again. |
| Obviously you also have to send them a copy of | | | | Once your form has been processed SASS will |
| your acceptance letter for your course. | | | | inform you of what they are going to pay you for |
| You apply through SAAS for both your grant/bursary | | | | your tuition fees and bursary/grant and you will |
| and your loan and they forward your application on | | | | receive a separate letter from the Student Loans |
| to the Student Loans Company if you have applied | | | | Company regarding any loans you have applied for. |
| for a loan. There are different types of loan you can | | | | These letters will tell you the dates which you will |
| apply for, an income assessed loan and a non income | | | | receive your money and how much you will receive. |
| assessed loan. Personally I think you are better off | | | | There is also a conformation you must take to your |
| applying for the income assessed loan as if you apply | | | | college or university, get it signed and hand it in for |
| for the non income assessed loan you will only get | | | | them to send as conformation that you have started |
| that amount, if you apply for the income assessed | | | | your course. |
| loan you have to fill out more information but you | | | | Provided there are no problems you will receive your |
| may just get more money. Obviously this means you | | | | money straight into your bank account on the dates |
| have more to pay back but since you don't pay it | | | | indicated on the letter you received from SAAS and |
| back until you are earning in the region of fifteen | | | | the SLC. Your tuition is paid directly to your college or |
| thousand pounds a year, and your payments are | | | | university. |