Fees and Funding
Information to help you estimate how much it will cost to study on the Access Programme.
Fees
The fee for the Access Programme is £643. Payment will be due shortly after the programme starts, and a member of COL staff will contact you in September to arrange this.
Funding Options
If you earn less than £25,000 per annum and live in Scotland you may be eligible for funding from SAAS via the Part-time Fee Grant. The Part-time Fee Grant will cover the majority of the programme fee but a student contribution for the remainder of the fee may be required.
We encourage all Access students to check their eligibility for the SAAS Part-time Fee Grant, which can help towards the cost of the programme fee. To check your eligibility and to apply online, visit the SAAS website.
Please be aware, making a SAAS application does not guarantee you will receive funding. If your SAAS application is unsuccessful, or if the funding you receive does not fully cover the programme fee, you will be responsible for paying any amounts outstanding.
Once you have been awarded funding, evidence that you have been granted the award should be sent to access.col@ed.ac.uk in September to confirm your fee status.
The Joan Gillon Memorial Fund was set up by the family of Joan Gillon, a former Access student, in order to help support Access students in financial need. A single £1,000 bursary is available each year for eligible applicants.
A single £1000 bursary award is available, and the successful applicant will receive the funds via BACS transfer in two instalments of £500 (the first in September and the second in January), subject to continued engagement with the programme.
The application process is competitive, as the intention of the memorial fund is to support the student with the greatest financial need to enable their Access studies.
Payment of Fees
If you are expecting SAAS funding, evidence that you have been granted the award should be sent to access.col@ed.ac.uk as soon as you receive it, and no later than September. You are responsible for payment of any remaining balance not covered by SAAS, in part or in full, if SAAS funding not obtained. If you are not able to present evidence of SAAS funding by this date, please let us know. SAAS decisions can take time to process so we encourage you to apply for SAAS funding as early as possible.
If you are self-funding, payment can be made in full or split into two payments. Payment for students must be received by the following time frames:
| Self-funding / Student Contribution | Payment in Full | Self-funding / Student Contribution | Payment Plan |
|---|---|
| 100% due by September | 50% due by September |
| 50% due by January |
You are welcome to contact us to discuss any payment issues or alternative payment plans. If you would like to speak to someone, please contact access.col@ed.ac.uk.
Fees can be paid online via the University's own payment gateway. Students will be contacted after the start of the programme with payment instructions.
Cost of Materials
The course fee does not include the cost of materials. This includes any materials you may need to buy for the Access Art & Design courses. Details of any materials to be supplied by you will be provided prior to the start of the Programme. We estimate that the cost of materials will be around £50-£70 for the full programme.
More Information
If you have any questions about course fees or funding, please don’t hesitate to contact us. If you are accepted on to the Access Programme we will provide you with full details of how to apply to SAAS and other payment options.