Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scotland and EU nationals who have been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme
The Scottish Government offers postgraduate loans to those who are due to commence a taught or research Masters or Postgraduate Diploma programme of study.
Loans are available for full-time and part-time postgraduate Diploma and Masters programmes.
You have to be studying an eligible PG Diploma or Masters programme.
If you are studying over more than one academic year you must apply for a fee loan in all years of your programme. Your tuition fee loan will be paid directly to your University.
Students from Scotland
| Award | Method of Study | Duration | Tuition Fee Loan - students starting 2021/22 |
Living Cost Loan - students starting 2021/22 |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £5,500 | Up to £4,500 |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 2 years | Up to £5,500 over 2 years | Up to £4,500 over 2 years |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £5,500 over 2 years | Not available |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 3 years *only if no 1yr f/t prog offered | Up to £5,500 over 3 years | Not available |
| PG Diploma | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £5,500 | Up to £4,500 |
| PG Diploma | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £5,500 over 2 years | Not available |
| Masters and PG Diploma | Part-time intermittent (ICL) | 2-6 years | Not available | Not available |
| PG Certificate | Any | Any | Not available | Not available |
Eligibility
- you must be a UK national (or have settled status) and been ordinarily resident in Scotland for three years on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme;
- you must be 'ordinarily resident' in Scotland (temporary absence from your home address, such as for education or travelling, will not prevent you from being eligible to apply for a PGL);
- you must be aged under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme.
EU nationals who have been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme, and meet the residence conditions set by SAAS
| Award | Method of Study | Duration | Tuition Fee Loan - students starting 2021/22 |
Living Cost Loan - students starting 2021/22 |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £5,500 | If you meet SAAS residency criteria |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 2 years | Up to £5,500 over 2 years | If you meet SAAS residency criteria |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £5,500 over 2 years | Not available |
| Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 3 years *only if no 1yr f/t prog offered | Up to £5,500 over 3 years | Not available |
| PG Diploma | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £5,500 | If you meet SAAS residency criteria |
| PG Diploma | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £5,500 over 2 years | Not available |
| Masters and PG Diploma | Part-time intermittent (ICL) | 2-6 years | Not available | Not available |
| PG Certificate | Any | Any | Not available | Not available |
Eligibility
- EU national who has been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme;
- If you do not meet the SAAS residency criteria you can apply for a tuition fee loan only;
- To be eligible for full support (tuition fee and living cost loan) you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years immediately prior to the relevant date and be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date. Further information on the relevant date can be found on the SAAS website;
- you must be aged under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme.
SAAS guidance - Exeptions to the general residence conditions
Applying
You can apply online at SAAS from April 2021.
Payment
Payments will be released after you have registered on your degree programme and the University has confirmed your attendance to the Student Loan Company (SLC) and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) at the start of the academic session.
Tuition fee payment will be made directly to the University.
Repayment
SAAS information on Repaying your Student Loan