Additional support funds

Childcare funds are designed to provide financial assistance to students whose entry to, or continuation of, their chosen course at SRUC may be inhibited by the cost of childcare. 

Childcare funding is limited and is allocated on a first come, first served basis.

If you have children, you can claim assistance with your childcare costs. They must be with a registered nursery/childminder and you can only claim costs for the days when you are timetabled to be in college or in a mandatory work placement as part of your course. Payments will not be paid if you do not regularly attend class or the work placement. Applications for support from the Childcare Fund are income-assessed.

Lone parent students who pay all or part of the cost for registered childcare can receive up to £1,215 a year in the form of a Lone Parent Childcare Grant. This grant is not income assessed. However, a student must provide proof that they are a lone parent with registered childcare expenses. This fund will be open for students who hold offers with SRUC from June. Students who receive childcare funding from any other source (such as the childcare element of working tax credits) should not apply for this grant. If lone parents have childcare costs in excess of £1,215 they will be considered for additional support from the Discretionary Childcare Fund, but this element of support will be income-assessed.

Students who have been in care at any time may be eligible for a Care-experienced Bursary. The term 'care-experienced' refers to anyone who has experienced a certain form of care in their life (sometimes known as having been ‘looked after’). This care may have been provided in many different settings, such as:

• formal kinship care – living with a relative who is not your parent
• being looked after at home with the help of social workers
• living in a residential unit or school
• Foster care
• living in a secure unit (such as those provided by a Local Authority, a religious organisation or a charity)
• adoption

Further education students:
Care-experienced students studying below SCQF level 6 must apply to the college bursary for their funding. The Care-experienced Bursary is £202.50 per week, with an additional amount for travel if you live more than two miles from your campus. 

Higher education students:
Care-experienced students studying above SCQF level 6 must apply to SAAS for their funding. The bursary of £8,100 replaces the current income-assessed living cost loan and bursary. If you are in receipt of the Care-experienced Bursary you are not eligible to apply for a student loan.

Help may also be available with your accommodation costs over the summer holidays (which fall between each year of your course) in form of a Care-experienced Accommodation Grant, with a maximum of £105 per week. SAAS will pay this directly to the person that is providing you with accommodation.

SRUC Alumni can enjoy a 15% Alumni Loyalty Discount on all MSc courses. Previous graduates, and those who are soon to graduate, can take advantage of the discount.

There are many benefits of continuing your studies with SRUC after you graduate. You can choose from a wide range of eligible MSc courses and make a substantial cost saving with our 15% Alumni Loyalty Discount. You are able to continue your learning and development in an environment familiar to you with the academic teams you already know. And you can make use of support and student services including libraries, careers support and recreational facilities.