Alternative funding

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Charities, trust funds, bursaries, and scholarships are alternative sources of funding which might be available to you.

Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing

Scottish Social Services Council-funding for MSc Social Work

Postgraduate Bursaries are available for nominated and eligible students studying the MSc Social Work at the following Universities: The University of Dundee, The University of Edinburgh, Glasgow Caledonian University, The University of Strathclyde, The Robert Gordon University, The University of Stirling, The University of the West of Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and The Open University.

Funding is limited and subject to a quota. Students must be nominated by their university for each year of the course. Nomination is attached to the university as well as to the student. Please contact your chosen university as nominations are at their discretion. There is no guarantee that a university will nominate a student for a Bursary, and they may have more students than quota places.

The Universities will send lists of nominated students to the SSSC. For September intake this is during summer and for January intake this is from autumn. Those students will be invited to apply. Nomination does not guarantee eligibility for funding. Students will be assessed for residence eligibility, previous funding received and if eligible, entitlement.

If a student is not nominated initially, nominations can change over the assessment period. If at any time a place becomes available, they may nominate another student on the course.

  • Residence eligibility will be derived from The Education (Fees and Student Support) (EU Exit) (Scotland) (Amendment) Regulations 2021.

Please see the attached Schedule of Rates in the 2022/23 Academic Year. Amounts shown are reviewed annually.

The overall Bursary consists of various allowances and are intended as a contribution towards the costs of study:

  • Tuition fees - all eligible students will receive a contribution towards Tuition Fees. The maximum contribution the Postgraduate Bursary Scheme is approved to pay towards course fees in 2022/23 is £3415.00. The maximum amount may not cover the full fee so please check this with your chosen University. The contribution towards fees is paid directly to the relevant University on the student’s behalf.
  • Means-tested grant and Dependants allowance - the Means-tested grant allowance is assessed using students’ unearned income; husband’s/wife's/civil partner’s income; or if a student is under 25 on the relevant date, we will take into account parental income, where applicable. The Dependants Allowance is assessed using a co-habitee’s income.
  • Sundry Expenses: all eligible students will receive a one-off payment towards placement travel and other expenses.

Previous study

If you have studied a Postgraduate course previously and received public funding for this within the previous year, we will require further information if you are nominated, as this may also affect your eligibility. But if you last received public funding over a year or several years before you start the MSc Social Work course then this could be acceptable.

Important: The Bursary is dependent on your registration with the SSSC Registry. In any case, if you have received an offer of a place on the MSc Social Work course in Scotland you must apply for registration as your course also depends on this. Please view https://www.sssc.uk.com/ or contact the SSSC Registry at registration@sssc.uk.com or call 0345 6030891 for further information.

If you are not nominated or eligible for a Bursary you could seek funding information at the following organisations or at your chosen Universities:

Scotland

Note: the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) (http://www.saas.gov.uk/) do not currently support the MSc Social Work (full-time or distance-learning) via loan or grant.

UK wide

Other UK (students ordinarily resident in other countries of the UK)