Postgraduate Loans (SAAS) (Scotland and EU nationals who have been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme)

About the project

The Scottish Government offers postgraduate loans to those who are due to commence a taught or research Masters or Postgraduate Diploma programme of study.

Loans are available for full-time and part-time postgraduate Diploma and Masters programmes.

You have to be studying an eligible PG Diploma or Masters programme.

If you are studying over more than one academic year you must apply for a fee loan in all years of your programme. Your tuition fee loan will be paid directly to your University.

Students from Scotland

Award | Method of Study | Duration | Tuition Fee Loan - students starting 2026-2027 | Living Cost Loan - students starting 2026-2027

Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £7,000 | Up to £6,900

Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 2 years | Up to £7,000 over 2 years | Up to £6,900 over 2 years (£3,450 per year)

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £7,000 over 2 years | Not available

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 3 years only if no 1yr f/t prog offered | Up to £7,000 over 3 years | Not available

PG Diploma | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £7,000 | Up to £6,900

PG Diploma | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £7,000 over 2 years | Not available

Masters and PG Diploma | Part-time intermittent (ICL) | 2-6 years | Not available | Not available

PG Certificate | Any | Any | Not available | Not available

Eligibility

• you must be a UK national (or have settled status) and been ordinarily resident in Scotland for three years on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme;
• you must be 'ordinarily resident' in Scotland (temporary absence from your home address, such as for education or travelling, will not prevent you from being eligible to apply for a PGL);
• You must be under 61 years old on the relevant date and meet SAAS eligibility conditions to qualify for the living-cost loan. If you change course and are 61 or over on the relevant date of your second course, you cannot get a student loan.
• The living-cost loan is not available to part-time postgraduate students or EU nationals coming to Scotland to study.

EU nationals who have been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme, and meet the residence conditions set by SAAS

Award | Method of Study | Duration | Tuition Fee Loan - students starting 2026-27 | Living Cost Loan - students starting 2026-27

Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £7,000 | If you meet SAAS residency criteria

Masters -Taught and Research | Full-time | 2 years | Up to £7,000 over 2 years | If you meet SAAS residency criteria

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £7,000 over 2 years | Not available

Masters -Taught and Research | Part-time | 3 years only if no 1yr f/t prog offered | Up to £7,000 over 3 years | Not available

PG Diploma | Full-time | 1 year | Up to £7,000 | If you meet SAAS residency criteria

PG Diploma | Part-time | 2 years | Up to £7,000 over 2 years | Not available

Masters and PG Diploma | Part-time intermittent (ICL) | 2-6 years | Not available | Not available

PG Certificate | Any | Any | Not available | Not available

Eligibility

SAAS guidance - Exceptions to the general residence conditions

• EU national who has been granted settled or pre-settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme;
• If you do not meet the SAAS residency criteria you can apply for a tuition fee loan only;
• To be eligible for full support (tuition fee and living cost loan) you must have been ordinarily resident in the UK for the three years immediately prior to the relevant date and be ordinarily resident in Scotland on the relevant date. Further information on the relevant date can be found on the SAAS website;
• you must be aged under 60 on the first day of the first academic year of your degree programme.

Applying

Applications are now open, you can apply online at SAAS .

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Payment

Payments will be released after you have registered on your degree programme and the University has confirmed your attendance to the Student Loan Company (SLC) and Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) at the start of the academic session.

Tuition fee payment will be made directly to the University.

Repayment

SAAS information on Repaying your Student Loan

Contact details

This article was published on 2024-07-29

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