Scottish Government - Young Students’ Bursary

Young Students' Bursary

You will receive up to about EUR 2,300 per year (up to £2,000) as a grant, which you will never have to repay, to cover your living costs whilst you are studying. How much you receive depends on your household income: up to around 2,300 (£2,000) euros if it is below £20,999,, around 1,300 (£1,125) euros if it is below £23,999,, and around 575 (£500) if it is below £34,000.. Payments are made monthly during term time and cover one academic year, so you’ll need to reapply every year of your studies. The money is provided by the Scottish Government via the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and is added to your student loan.

Who can apply

• Where you study: You are studying full-time as part of your first bachelor’s degree at a Scottish university, such as the University of Edinburgh.
• Where you live: You normally live in Scotland and meet the SAAS residence requirements. EU citizens with ‘settled’ or ‘pre-settled’ status under the EU Settlement Scheme may also be eligible.
• Financial need: Your household income is less than £34,000 per year.
• Your age and situation: This scholarship is aimed at younger students. If you are 25 or older, have children, or have been financially independent for at least three years, you should apply for the separate scholarship for independent students instead.
• Field of study: Any field of study is eligible. Students of nursing and midwifery are subject to a separate SAAS funding scheme.
• No overlap: This grant cannot be claimed at the same time as the scholarship for students with care experience.

How to apply

You can apply for the SAAS grant directly online from April onwards, as soon as you have received a conditional or unconditional offer of a place. The deadline is 31 March for the relevant academic year, and you must reapply each year. The SAAS will inform you of the exact amount you will receive.

How realistic are your chances?

This is a means-tested state grant and not a selection process, so there is no set number of places. If your household income is below £34,000,, you are studying full-time on your first degree course and you meet the Scottish residency requirements, you will be eligible for this grant. The amount of funding depends on your income bracket. Apply for the funding in good time before the deadline on 31 March and submit a new application each year to continue receiving the funding.