Scottish Student Finance for Uni

[AccessNoAreas]

So I had a look on the SAAS site and have a few really basic questions. I've numbered them to keep it simple (hopefully!) Apologies if this covered elsewhere but I'm finding MN hard to search since the site changes.

1. The SAAS website says you need to set up an account - who needs to do this - the student or the parent(s)?

1. Do you have to provide the student's bank account details or your own? Currently my DS just has a basic bank account but I'm sure will get a student one with lots of perks and enticements once he actually starts Uni. Is it easy enough to change which bank account any loans get paid into?

1. If you know that you will only get the minimum maintenance loan as your household earns over £34k, is there an option to tick a box to say this and therefore not go through the process of submitting parental wage details, P60s etc ...

1. Do you have to apply twice; once for the tuition fees and once for the maintenance loan?

1. Can you start the process without having accepted any offers? My DS has two unconditional offers and hasn't decided yet which one he will accept (he's waiting the outcome of a third application which infuriatingly hasn't come through yet)

1. Do we still have plenty of time to apply? I read we've got till June 30th but we'll know for sure by May 19th at the latest because that's the deadline for the Universities to give out offers.

1. Does the maintenance loan come through in termly instalments? I'd love for it to come as a lump sum so we can pay the accommodation but understand it might not work like that!

Our DS is staying in Scotland but will be living away from home - he will definitely need to work when finishes his exams and during Uni. I'm hoping that he gets the cheapest accommodation option at his University but know that we won't get much choice in the matter!

TIA😊

I don't have the answers to these and may return with them later - but I will add another point for you. If your son does not yet have a NI number then this is something he'll need to apply for.

Though I believe it gets sent automatically if the child is in the child benefit scheme.

Just done the process with my DD so don't know answers to all your questions, but here's what I can say:

1. student

2.student's bank account- don't know how easy to change later

1. Think it says if household earns over £34k, no need to submit evidence, but you will find that part as you go through the form.

1. All one application and you tick which parts applying for.

1. Yes, I phoned and asked them about this one (they were very helpful). Person said to fill in for first choice and then at a later date if that changes there is a simple form on the site that you get a link to to change it (and also the students address once accommodation found)

1. I applied early as wanted to know what we would get for financial planning and also felt there would be enough stress later in year with exams, results, Uni start up etc. but I think up to you.

1. The bursary comes through monthly. I think the loan is a lump sum. So far I can only see we have been awarded it, but no schedule for it as it comes from a different place (Students Loan Company).

Hope this helps a wee bit, I'm sure others who are further down the line will know answers to your other parts.

Good luck!

Lizzie - he got sent his NI number when he turned 16 so I'll dig that out from my well-organised filing system (shuffles furiously through several piles of paperwork...)

Stormsurfer thanks for your detailed reply - really useful.

Will maybe leave it a week and then get the ball rolling.

Thanks both!

I've got DC1 in 1st year so can answer some of your queries. But tbh she did the application herself and came and asked me questions she needed answers to so I don't actually know what the application looks like.

Stormsurfer has answered most but I would add

2.can change bank details anytime

1. Tick the over 34k box and no need to submit anything. You know you will get minimum loan then.

1. Need a university course code to put on the application

1. Plenty time to apply. My DD had conditional offer so applied quite late. She did it all in one evening,very quick and easy

1. Maintenance loan comes in monthly instalments. Fees and loan don't get released until university confirms student has matriculated, IIRC. Fees paid directly to university.

University accommodation also paid monthly

Good luck

Cheers Cactus. My DS has been very self-sufficient during this process so I'll just get his NI number to him and tell him to have his Course number, UCAS number and bank account details to hand. He'll maybe just enter the details of the Course and Uni that he's most likely to accept, on the proviso that it's a simple exercise to change those details if his preferred 3rd choice comes through as an offer?

I think he noticed that his date of birth was wrong on his UCAS - his school had transposed the month/day and he only noticed when there was some confusion getting his TSA results. I asked him to sort it out ages ago but that might have been forgotten about. Better get that sorted!

There are SAAS workshops happening now, we went on one 2 nights ago and they give you a quick overview will answer all your questions.

It should be the student that applies. In the application you can apply for tuition fees and/or loan at the same time.

If applying for a student loan they can enter their current bank account and go back in and change it anytime later (for example when they open a student bank account).

They can enter the place they are likely to be going, before an offer. The application can be changed later or cancelled if they get no offers.

If you enter the minimum loan it doesn't ask for any income details.

DS will be commuting to uni and is trying to get a PT job. He has only applied for the tuition fees so far, but we asked in the SAAS workshop and he can apply for the full minimum loan at any time through the year if he changes his mind.

SAAS workshops booking

....and once you start the application you can save it and go back in later and add/change things before finally submitting

The first SAAS loan payment is a double payment in September then the rest come in 9 monthly payments with the last one in May. And, this probably isn't essential info, the day SAAS is paid in each month is widely known as SAASmas :))