Education - support for part-time study and disabled students: consultation - June 2025

Annex A: Glossary

“Additional Support Needs for Learning Allowance (ASNLA)” – This is a fund available to eligible students undertaking a course of Further Education. It can be used to support a disabled student who, because of their disability, is obliged to incur additional personal expenditure arising from their attendance at college.

“Benefits” – These are social security benefits or payments made to individuals under the social security system run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland (SSS).

“Campus based learning” – In campus-based learning, students are expected to attend classes and engage with their course in person, even if some aspects of their learning may be delivered through other means, e.g. online.

“Carer” – The Carers (Scotland) Act 2016 defines a carer as an individual who provides or intends to provide care for another individual.

“Childcare Funds” – These are funds aimed to support students in Higher and Further Education with childcare provision costs so that they can attend their course.

“Consumable items Allowance” – This is one of the bespoke Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) allowances. This allowance is intended to support with photocopying, printing, and other similar costs. The maximum amount that can be claimed annually is £1,725 pro rata.

“Degree” – Degree courses at Scottish universities cover academic subjects, while some can be vocational. They are offered at undergraduate level (SCQF 9-10) and at postgraduate level (SCQF 11).

“Dependent’s Allowance” – Students in Further Education who have financial and legal responsibility for a spouse, civil partner, or partner, may be eligible for some financial support under the Dependent’s Allowance grant. For Higher Education students studying paramedic science, nursing, or midwifery eligibility extends to students caring for a dependant adult or child that lives with them for over 50% of the time.

“Diagnostic evidence” – This is medical evidence or a written statement or report provided by a qualified professional, confirming the student’s condition and / or additional learning needs.

“Disability” – The Equality Act 2010 defines disability as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on an individual's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. The effect of impairment is considered long-term if it has lasted or is likely to last for at least 12 months or if it is likely to last for the rest of the life of the person affected.

“Disability advisor” – The disability advisors at a university or college provide support to students who are disabled or have additional learning support needs. They have a duty to assess the impact the student’s impairment might have on their learning and studying and support them in reducing or removing any barriers the student might face in their studies.

“Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)” – DSA is a fund to support disabled students and those with additional learning needs who are studying a higher education course and have extra costs because of their disability. DSA is a bespoke, non-income assessed fund administered by Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) directly to eligible students.

“Disabled Students Premium (DSP)” – DSP is a fund which is allocated from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to universities as part of their core funding. It aims to support institutions in meeting additional costs required to support a student with additional support needs.

“Discretionary Funds” – Discretionary Funds are intended to provide financial assistance for students in financial difficulties in order for them to access and/or continue in Higher Education (HE) and are paid in addition to any other forms of student support. Students do not need to pay this money back.

“Distance learning” – “Open or Distance Learning” is an alternative route to studying a degree course offered by an education provider. Instead of attending lectures and seminars on campus, the student is expected to study mostly from their own space and at their own time. Some attendance of live lectures / seminars or occasional in-person attendance may still be required.

“Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)” – EMA is a weekly allowance of £30 paid direct to eligible students (age between 16-19) to help them stay on in education beyond the statutory school leaving age of 16. Applicants need to meet the criteria for residency, household income and education status to qualify for EMA.

“Education provider” – A private or publicly funded organisation that offers courses and other training. For the purposes of this consultation, the term refers to post-school education courses.

“Equipment, Software and Accessories Allowance” – This is one of the bespoke Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) allowances. This allowance is intended to support with the purchase or hire of disability related hardware and software, and other ergonomic equipment. The maximum amount that can be claimed during the student’s whole programme of study is £5,160.

“Fee waiver” – The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) pays fees for eligible Scottish domiciled students in Further Education part-time / distance learning courses direct to the College. This is called a “fee waiver”.

“Full-time study” – A full-time student will physically attend college or university on a regular basis over the academic year. For full-time HE funding eligibility purposes, a student is considered a full-time student when they are registered on a course which an institution defines as a full-time course.

“Further Education (FE)” – Further education in Scotland is usually for people aged 16 years or over (with no upper age limit), and either takes place in colleges, the workplace or a combination of both. Further-education level courses in college are mainly vocational (work-related), rather than degree-level courses.

“Higher Education (HE)” – Higher education in Scotland is anything which takes place above level 6 of the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF), such as degree programmes or Higher National Certificates or Diplomas. Postgraduate qualifications are also classed as higher education. Higher education in Scotland can take place in colleges or universities, and in some cases in the workplace.

“Higher National Certificate (HNC)” – HNCs are higher education qualifications at SCQF level 7. They normally take one year to complete if studying full-time, and two to three years if studied part-time.

“Higher National Diploma (HND)” – HNDs are higher education qualifications at SCQF level 8. They normally take one year to complete if studying full-time, and two to three years if studied part-time.

“Household income” – For the purposes of student funding in HE and FE education, ‘household income’ refers to the total income from all sources (such as earnings, benefits, investments, etc.), before deductions of income tax and National Insurance.

“Living cost support” – Student finance is available to eligible students to help towards their living costs while they are at university or college. This includes bursaries, loans, and other support grants.

“Means – test” – This is the process of assessing an individual’s financial circumstances (usually income) to determine eligibility for state assistance.

“Needs Assessment Report (NAR)” – A Needs Assessment is a report carried out by a qualified individual which outlines the type of support and/or equipment a student requires to undertake their course.

“Non-Medical Personal Help (NMPH)” – This is one of the bespoke Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) allowances. NMPH is intended to support with costs for personal helpers offering services such as British Sign Language (BSL), note taking, mental health / mentor support, study skill support. The maximum amount that can be claimed annually is £20,520 pro rata.

“Ordinary residence” – In Scotland, ordinary residence is defined as habitual or normal residence, by choice, over a period of time in one place. The residence should be adopted voluntarily and for a settled purpose, which could be for a limited period. For the purposes of student funding, ordinary residence usually excludes residence wholly or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education.

“Parent” – The term includes a step-parent, a guardian, and any other person having parental responsibilities for a child.

“Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG)” – Scottish domiciled students who are undertaking a course between level 7 and 10 of the Scottish Qualification Framework (SCQF) on a part-time or distance learning basis, may be eligible for payment of their tuition fees under the Part-Time Fee Grant (PTFG). PTFG is means-tested and the student income threshold for year ending April 2025 is £25,000 or less.

“Part-time study” – A part-time student may only attend college or university when required. For part-time HE funding eligibility purposes, the maximum number of academic credits per year cannot be more than 119 or less than 30.

“Professional Development Award” – Professional Development Awards (PDA)

are usually designed for those already in a career or vocation who wish to extend, broaden or enhance their skills. However, sometimes they are designed for those wishing to enter employment and can be delivered in a variety of settings. They sit on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at Levels 6 - 12.

“Professional Graduate Diploma in Education” – The Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) is the graduate entry route for those who want to become a teacher in Scotland.

“Programme for Government” – A document which sets out the actions which the Scottish Government will take in the coming year and beyond. It also includes the legislative programme for the next parliamentary year. The current Programme for Government (this link will direct to the Programme for Government document on the Scottish Government website) covers the period 2025 to 2026.

“Residence eligibility” – To be eligible for student support funding (tuition fees, student loan, bursary and living-costs grants) students need to meet certain residency conditions. These can be found in the following guides: residence conditions for UK nationals (this link will direct to the Student Awards Agency Scotland website), residence conditions for EU, Irish, EEA, Swiss, Gibraltar, Turkish nationals (this link will direct to the Student Awards Agency Scotland website), and residence conditions for non-EEA nationals (this link will direct to the Student Awards Agency Scotland website).

“Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)” – The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) is the qualifications framework for Scotland. It features qualifications offered by schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, training organisations, and in the community. Awards are classified under the framework at 12 levels, and study undertaken at that level is valued in credits.

“Scottish Funding Council (SFC)” – The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government with the duty to fund and assure the coherent provision of high-quality further and higher education by colleges and universities in Scotland.

“Scottish Vocational Qualification (SVQ)” – SVQs are vocational qualifications which are aimed at giving students the skills and knowledge they will need in specific occupations. SVQs are normally available in colleges or in the workplace, or by a mix of both, and are based on National Occupational Standards. They are available at 5 levels, and those above level 3 are classed as higher education qualifications.

“SIMD – 20” – SIMD-20 learners are those from the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland (according to the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) who are entering Higher Education.

“Statutory school leaving date” – in Scotland, the exact date a young person can leave school depends on when their 16^th birthday is.

“Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)” – Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) is an executive agency of the Scottish Government, responsible for administering student funding in Scotland for students studying Higher Education courses.

“Student bursary” – Student bursaries are non-repayable financial aids available to eligible students in Further and Higher Education. This money can help with living costs, study and travel expenses.

“Student income” – This is the income the student has during the academic year. This can include certain benefits, interest from bank accounts, bonds / dividends/ trust / inheritance / property / pension income, etc. It does not include other forms of income, such as income earned through employment, or received from educational endowments, hardship funds, redundancy payments, sponsorships.

“Student loan” – A student loan is money eligible students can borrow to help pay for their living costs while at college or university. As well as having to be on an eligible course, a person's age determines if they are eligible for a living cost loan.

“The Equality Act” – The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. This includes protection from direct and indirect discrimination because of disability and the duty on organisations to make reasonable adjustments.

“Tuition fee loan” – A tuition fee loan is money full-time students in Higher Education can borrow to help pay for their tuition fees if they are not eligible for their fees to be paid for by Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

“Tuition fees” – The cost attached to the study of a course in Further and Higher Education is called “tuition fees”. These are based on the student’s residence status.