Asylum seekers
and refugees

Financial support at Scotland's Colleges

The following tables present the general differences in financial support for the following groups of people:

• Asylum Seekers
• those who have Refugee status, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave.

Part time

FUNDING	Fee waiver	Student Support and Hardship Funds	State benefits while studying
Asylum seekers	A small number of asylum seekers are eligible, if fulfilling appropriate criteria.	A small number of asylum seekers are eligible, if fulfilling appropriate criteria.	Asylum seekers are not eligible for state benefits.
Refugees with Refugee Status, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave	Eligible if fulfilling the residency criteria.*	Eligible for means-tested pro rata support and to apply to Hardship and Childcare Funds if fulfilling residency criteria.*	See 'General notes on state benefits'.

Full time

FUNDING	Fee waiver	Student Support and Hardship Funds	State benefits while studying
Asylum seekers	A small number of asylum seekers are eligible, if fulfilling appropriate criteria.	A small number of asylum seekers are eligible, if fulfilling appropriate criteria.	Asylum seekers are not eligible for state benefits.
Refugees with Refugee Status, Humanitarian Protection or Discretionary Leave	Eligible if fulfilling the residency criteria.*	Eligible for means-tested pro rata support and to apply to Hardship and Childcare Funds if fulfilling residency criteria.*	See 'General notes on state benefits'.

* For a definition of ‘residency criteria’ and further information and advice, contact SAAS (Students Award Agency for Scotland).

The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) will waive the fees for asylum seekers attending college and studying a full- or part-time English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) course.