Self-supporting

You will automatically qualify as a self-supporting student if you are 25 years of age or over on the start date of your course.

This is the date the course starts rather than the date the student starts the course. The reason the self-supporting age is set at 25 is that the obligation for parents to support children undergoing education or training is set out in Section 1(5) (b) of the Family Law (Scotland) Act 1985. This sets out the obligation of aliment and it covers both fees and student support. This can be found via the following link: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1985/37/section/1

Therefore, unless a student can prove three years of self-sufficiency by providing appropriate evidence, parental support is sought. A student who has not yet reached the age of 25 should be defined as self-supporting if one or more of the following applies on the start date of the course.

• they are married. Definition for bursary purposes: The student is legally married, is in a legally recognised civil partnership or is living with a partner in an established relationship at the start date of the course. The onus is on the student to prove they are in an established relationship. This does not include situations where the student was married but that marriage broke down prior to the start date of the course; or
• they have no living parents; or
• they are caring for a child dependent on them; or
• they have supported themselves for periods totalling no less than three years. This includes periods where the individual was either:
  1. in employment and earning equal to or more than current income support levels
  2. supported by a partner with earnings equal to or more than current income support levels
  3. on a training programme operated by or on behalf of the Scottish Government or Skills Development Scotland
  4. in receipt of unemployment benefit/jobseeker's allowance and/or can provide confirmation that they were available or registered for employment or actively seeking employment
  5. in receipt of employment and support allowance, sickness benefit, invalidity pension, incapacity benefit, maternity allowance, severe disablement allowance, statutory sick pay or statutory maternity pay
  6. In receipt of income support
  7. In receipt of Universal Credit
  8. In care for the necessary qualifying period. Proof is required from the relevant social services department
  9. In an established home of their own for the relevant period. A copy of a formal rent agreement should be supplied
  10. In receipt of housing benefit for the relevant period
  11. caring for a person (adult or child) dependent on them. The student should provide evidence that they have been the primary carer for an adult.
  12. Estrangement from parents

The meaning of estrangement in this context means a permanent and irrevocable breakdown in the parental/child relationship. A breakdown in family communication is not considered to be estrangement and any award in this situation must take account of parental income. If the situation arises for a continuing student, the college will consider using any income details provided in the previous year to assess any award.

Proof of a permanent and irrevocable breakdown in the parental / child relationship should be established by a letter from a lawyer, a doctor, a head or guidance teacher, or from someone in authority who knows the family well enough to confirm the position.

The onus is on the student to provide documentary evidence to prove they have self-supporting status. If there is not sufficient evidence to prove this, then the college will consider that student under one of the other categories of support.