Scottish student loans under "UK returner" rules - length of Scottish residence?

ant386

Got a fairly unusual problem methinks, at least I can't find any answers in Google. I moved from England to Scotland two months ago for a new job, and it's just occurred to me that I'd now qualify for free university as a Scottish resident above age 25. I'd like to apply for a course starting in 2014. So far so good, I think.

Yesterday though, my girlfriend (back in England) was offered a great job in Spain, on a 12 month, possibly renewable, contract. She asked me to come with her, instead of our old plan where she would look for work in Scotland and join me.

I'd like to say yes, but I don't want to lose my last realistic chance of a fulltime university degree (as a 29 year old I don't really have time to waste). EU students don't pay Scottish fees, but they can't get any living costs loans or grants. I can only afford to study if I get the whole package.

Does anyone know if I can spend the year in Spain, then return to Scotland and claim full student support based on the SAAS "UK returner" rules? Given that I've only been working in Scotland for eight weeks.

If not, could I go to Spain for a shorter period and just call it a holiday, even if I do some work there?

EDIT: I wouldn't go unless I found a job in Spain, and even then I'd give at least a month's notice at my current job. So my Scottish residence would be at least 3-4 months when I actually leave.

agrinnall

I think you would struggle to meet the SAAS 'habitual residence' requirement at the moment anyway, if you applied for funding 2 months after moving to Scotland I'm pretty sure you would be regarded as 'your main purpose in coming here has been to receive full-time education'. As such I can't see that a claim from Spain would work either.

http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/residence_conditions.htm

ant386

I'd be applying in 2014, so it would be at least 13 months (if I apply in January along with my UCAS application) after first coming to Scotland. Two months is how long I've been here already.

agrinnall wrote: »

if you applied for funding 2 months after moving to Scotland

laurylaury

The following link from Heriot Watt university seems to suggest that if a Scottish address becomes your permanent address before the course commences then you would be treated as domiciled in Scotland: https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CD8QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hw.ac.uk%2Fwelfare%2Fdocs%2Ffunding-staff-presentation.ppt&ei=0kElUaHgOfTJ0AW03ICYDw&usg=AFQjCNGUJFwcyZOVsFKBzvrYCYVWfR6d4g&sig2=ZgvQrrZ18QEHUfrrBaRHvg&bvm=bv.42661473,d.d2k.

However, when applying through UCAS you would need to provide your address and this information is probably shared with SAAS. If you have a non-Scottish address this may raise some eyebrows with SAAS (as far as I remember you indicate who is providing your funding in the application form).
Also, the deadline for applying for student funding in order to have it by start of term the deadline is usually 30th June so you would have to be in Scotland by then in order to apply so you could put a Scottish address on the application. Otherwise it would seem that SAAS would question why you are applying for the 'full package' if you have a Spanish/English address.

ant386

Thanks Laury, that link is really useful. It seems to confirm what I guessed, that having moved from England is not a problem because I came for work, but now moving to Spain even temporarily would call my commitment to Scotland into question.

Do you have any idea if an 8 week holiday in Spain would cause problems? I can go for that long without giving up my Scottish job, with a mixture of annual leave, shift swaps and two weeks unpaid leave when the office is closed. Would it matter if I earned any money teaching English during the trip? I have a CELTA and there's a school which might have some classes to offer me.

laurylaury wrote: »

However, when applying through UCAS you would need to provide your address and this information is probably shared with SAAS. If you have a non-Scottish address this may raise some eyebrows with SAAS (as far as I remember you indicate who is providing your funding in the application form).

laurylaury

ant386 wrote: »

Do you have any idea if an 8 week holiday in Spain would cause problems? I can go for that long without giving up my Scottish job, with a mixture of annual leave, shift swaps and two weeks unpaid leave when the office is closed. Would it matter if I earned any money teaching English during the trip? I have a CELTA and there's a school which might have some classes to offer me.

I wouldn't think so because Scotland would remain your permanent address.

Fire_Fox

http://www.saas.gov.uk/

agrinnall

Fire Fox, are you offering anything that I didn't when I posted a link to SAAS in #2?

AnnBar

I thought that you had to be resident in Scotland for 3 years before you qualify for fee funding.

zagubov

AnnBar wrote: »

I thought that you had to be resident in Scotland for 3 years before you qualify for fee funding.

You need to check this out as it might be different for people in work or education.
Also, the rules for mature students /people in their 20s might be different for those in thier teens.

suburbanwifey

AnnBar wrote: »

I thought that you had to be resident in Scotland for 3 years before you qualify for fee funding.

That is correct