Care Experienced Bursary

Full time FE care-experienced students can apply through the College for the FE Care-Experienced bursary. The Care-Experienced bursary is £225 per week. 

Any student who has been in care at some point in their lives can apply for this bursary. You will have to provide us with a letter from your Social Worker to confirm you have experienced care. We have staff who will help you access all the support available so please don’t worry.

Care-experienced students studying above SCQF level 6 must apply to the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) for their funding. You can do this by visiting www.saas.gov.uk

The Care-Experienced bursary of £9,675 replaces the current-income assessed living cost loan and bursary. If you are in receipt of the care- experienced bursary you are not eligible to apply for a student loan.

When you get an offer of a place on a course, the College will automatically send an activation email to the email address provided on your course application form. Once you have completed the form and this is submitted, we will make an assessment for the type of funding you are eligible for.

You only need to fill out one form. We will assess which type of funding you are eligible for, including travel expenses and course materials, based on your age and personal circumstances. If we require more documents to finalise your award we will send an e-mail or letter requesting the documents.

All funding applications are mobile friendly so don’t worry if you do not have a computer you can use a tablet or your mobile phone. The Student Funding team are always on hand to help. You can email studentadviser@dumgal.ac.uk to arrange an appointment to discuss your application. 

It is really important to submit your application early to ensure you have your assessment before you start college.

Help is available with your accommodation costs over the summer holidays which fall between each year of your course. The maximum payment for this is £105 per week. SAAS will pay this directly to the person that is providing you with accommodation.

If you submit your application by 30 June with no errors and with all supporting documents, SAAS have guaranteed an assessment before your course starts. It is really important to submit your form as early as possible.

Childcare funds are intended to provide non-repayable assistance for students with children in order for them to access and/or continue in education and are paid in addition to any other forms of student support. Childcare funds are supplementary to core sources of student funding such as bursaries and student loans. 

Childcare awards will be not be made to any learner who has a spouse or partner who is at home during College hours and is able and available to look after the child/children. 

All childcare providers must be registered with the Care Inspectorate.

The assessment process is based on need, and all funding is means tested against all household income. If you have a household income above £40,000 you will not be eligible to apply for this fund. This is in line with HMRC Child Tax Credit Assessment.

The maximum financial support offered to students should not exceed college time and placement time (as defined in the Course Design Document) plus timetabled study time and travel time. In total, this must not exceed 40 hours per week nor 8 hours per day.

Discretionary funds are intended to provide non-repayable assistance for students in financial difficulties in order for them to access and/or continue in education and are paid in addition to any other forms of student support. Discretionary funds are supplementary to core sources of student funding such as bursaries and student loans. 

Any student who is living in their own/shared accommodation may be entitled to assistance from discretionary funds to assist with their rent.