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Student finance

Good Evening,

I was wondering if I could get some help with eligibility for student finance.

I have been accepted onto a university course starting in September 2025. I just wanted to ask about tuition fees. I have previously completed a HNC in nautical science from an old job, which I didn’t get student finance for as it was through the merchant navy.

Does this affect my eligibility at all?

Thanks,
Mollie

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 1

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post by MollPlastic

Good Evening,
I was wondering if I could get some help with eligibility for student finance.
I have been accepted onto a university course starting in September 2025. I just wanted to ask about tuition fees. I have previously completed a HNC in nautical science from an old job, which I didn’t get student finance for as it was through the merchant navy.
Does this affect my eligibility at all?
Thanks,
Mollie

Hi Mollie,

What is the course you are studying and is this at full time? Thanks, Jason

Reply 2

MollPlastic

Original post by SFE Jason

Hi Mollie,
What is the course you are studying and is this at full time? Thanks, Jason

Hi Jason,

It is full time Paramedic Science

Thanks
Mollie

Reply 3

SFE Jason

Official Rep

Original post by MollPlastic

Hi Jason,
It is full time Paramedic Science
Thanks
Mollie

Thank you. Paramedic Science courses are only classed as an exception if you are entitled to funding from the Ambulance Service Trust. If you are not eligible for support from the Ambulance Service Trust you can apply to us for full support, but this will be subject to ELQ rules. Which means for year 1 you may not be entitled to fees if you already hold an HNC qualification.

Previous Study

•

If you are in receipt of a means tested bursary then you would be classed as being on an exception course

•

If you are not in receipt of a means tested bursary then the standard ELQ and previous study rules apply

Applications are expected to go live in the spring. So I would always advise applying as soon as they do - as this will allow the application to be processed quicker and the assessors will confirm your entitlement in a timely manner.

Thanks, Jason

Reply 4

MollPlastic

Original post by SFE Jason

•

If you are in receipt of a means tested bursary then you would be classed as being on an exception course

•

If you are not in receipt of a means tested bursary then the standard ELQ and previous study rules apply

Hi Jason,

I appreciate your help with this.

How many years are we entitled to is it 4? As my HNC was one year. So would it still cover my full 3 year degree?

Thanks,
Mollie

Reply 5

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi Mollie,

We base your eligibility for funding on what qualifications you have and how many years of previous study you have. How many years was your HNC? Do you know if you were eligible for the Ambulance Service Trust?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 6

MollPlastic

Original post by Drew SLC

Hi Mollie,
We base your eligibility for funding on what qualifications you have and how many years of previous study you have. How many years was your HNC? Do you know if you were eligible for the Ambulance Service Trust?
Thanks, Drew

Hi Drew,

I believe it will have been one year as it was in the merchant navy I spent time at sea also. As within the year and a half I was completing it prior to that included completing level 3 as well. It is an SQA qualification.

I have applied directly to university so haven’t gone through any ambulance services unfortunately.

Thanks,
Mollie

Reply 7

Drew SLC

Official Rep

Hi Mollie,

So to confirm you awarded was only level 3? Is that correct?

Thanks, Drew

Reply 8

MollPlastic

Original post by Drew SLC

Hi Mollie,
So to confirm you awarded was only level 3? Is that correct?
Thanks, Drew

Hi Drew,

Sorry about this I have the level 3 and a HNC in Nautical Science as it was built up over my time in the nautical college. So once I achieved the level 3 we continued and got the HNC. But the HNC was achieved from September to March when I left.

Thanks,
Mollie

Reply 9

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Hi Molly. Can you confirm if this is a Bachelors degree (BA) course for the Paramedic Science ? Thanks.

Reply 10

MollPlastic

Hi Leah,

It is a bsc in Paramediv science

Thanks
Mollie

Reply 11

Leah SLC

Official Rep

Thanks. If you are not eligible to apply for any funding from the the Ambulance Service Trust you are entitled to full SFE support. However you will need to check you definitely aren't eligible, as this can affect the funding.

Student Finance uses this calculation to work out how much funding you have left:

New course length + Additional Year – Previous study years

For example, your new course is 3 years long, your calculation would be:

3 + 1 – 1 = 3 years entitlement

So, you would have enough Tuition Fee for the course, but you lose the additional year we give for repeats due to your previous study. Thanks, Leah.

Reply 12

MollPlastic

Original post by Leah SLC

Thanks. If you are not eligible to apply for any funding from the the Ambulance Service Trust you are entitled to full SFE support. However you will need to check you definitely aren't eligible, as this can affect the funding.

Student Finance uses this calculation to work out how much funding you have left:
New course length + Additional Year – Previous study years
For example, your new course is 3 years long, your calculation would be:

3 + 1 – 1 = 3 years entitlement
So, you would have enough Tuition Fee for the course, but you lose the additional year we give for repeats due to your previous study. Thanks, Leah.

Hi Leah,

I really appreciate your help with that.

In terms of the Ambulance service funding is that the one that is awarded yearly? As I had been researching that. The only thing that confused me was to apply for that I need to have been authorised funding for my student finance however when I called SFE to ask they said the opposite please are you able to advise?

Thanks,
Mollie

Reply 13

Graeme SFE

Official Rep

Original post by MollPlastic

Hi Leah,
I really appreciate your help with that.
In terms of the Ambulance service funding is that the one that is awarded yearly? As I had been researching that. The only thing that confused me was to apply for that I need to have been authorised funding for my student finance however when I called SFE to ask they said the opposite please are you able to advise?
Thanks,
Mollie

Hi Mollie,

Just to clarify, this actually won't affect you. If, for example, you already had a degree (or honours degree) then we'd ask you about the Ambulance Trust funding.

However, since you only have an HNC this won't be a problem. You're entitled to funding from us for the duration of your course.

You can apply for funding from an Ambulance Trust if you want, but you don't need to do.

Thanks, Graeme

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