Scotland (SAAS)
The Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) provides funding for eligible Scottish students. The system is distinct from the rest of the UK, offering free tuition for many and a generous bursary system.
Plan 4 Threshold
£32,745
per year
Repayment rate
9%
above threshold
Current interest
3.2%
Sept 2025 (RPI)
Write-off
30 years
or age 65 for older loans
You don't need to pay upfront to go to uni
You don’t need to pay a penny upfront to go to university. Tuition fees (where payable) and maintenance loans are provided as support — tuition fee waivers are available for many students who normally live in Scotland (see below).
What matters in practice is how much you repay, which depends on your future earnings rather than the size of the loan you take out.
Free Tuition?
Eligible Scottish students studying in Scotland are usually not charged tuition fees.
However, this is not automatic. You must apply to SAAS every year to have these fees paid on your behalf. If you forget to apply, the university may invoice you directly.
If you choose to study elsewhere in the UK (e.g., England), you may be charged up to £9,250 (or £9,535 from 2025/26), and you can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover this.
Plan 4 Repayments
Scottish student loans are on Plan 4.
- Higher Threshold: The repayment threshold is currently £31,395. This is significantly higher than Plan 2 or Plan 5, meaning you can earn more before you start paying back.
- Repayment Rate: You pay 9% of everything you earn above this threshold.
- Write-off: Loans are typically written off after 30 years (or at age 65 for older loans).
What you'll repay on Plan 4
Below are illustrative annual examples showing typical repayments on Plan 4.
| Salary | Repayments per year |
|---|---|
| £20,000 | £0 |
| £30,000 | £0 |
| £40,000 | £774 |
| £50,000 | £1,674 |
| £60,000 | £2,574 |
| £70,000 | £3,474 |
| £80,000 | £4,374 |
| £90,000 | £5,274 |
| £100,000 | £6,174 |
Bursary vs Loan Balance (2025/26)
SAAS offers a mix of non-repayable bursaries and repayable loans based on household income. This helps reduce the debt burden for students from lower-income families.
| Household Income | Bursary (Free) | Loan (Repayable) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 - £20,999 | £2,000 | £9,400 | £11,400 |
| £34,000+ | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 |
Support towards student living costs (2025/26)
The level of bursary and loan you receive depends on household income. The table below also shows the implied parental contribution for higher-income households.
| Household income | Bursary | Loan | Total | Parental contribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 to £20,999 | £2,000 | £9,400 | £11,400 | £0 |
| £21,000 to £23,999 | £1,125 | £9,400 | £10,525 | £875 |
| £24,000 to £33,999 | £500 | £9,400 | £9,900 | £1,500 |
| £34,000 or more | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 | £3,000 |
💡Apply for student finance early
The deadline for student finance in Scotland for the 2025/26 academic year was 30 June 2025 for new and returning students. Apply early to avoid delays — if you miss the deadline you can still apply but payments may take longer to arrive.
Postgraduate loans & support
Scottish postgraduate loans follow the same repayment system as Plan 4. Tuition fee loans are available up to £7,000 (2025/26) and living-cost loans combined with the Special Support Loan can provide larger packages for eligible students.
Repayments for postgraduate loans are taken alongside any undergraduate balance as one monthly deduction.
✅Plan 4 Calculator
Want to see how much you'll repay on Plan 4? Use our specific Plan 4 Calculator to estimate your monthly costs.
Practical tips & further reading
Before you apply
Check your residency status and that you meet SAAS eligibility
Apply before the deadline to guarantee payment by the start of term
If family income has dropped recently, consider a current year income (CYI) assessment