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Fund Your Studies
Sorting your funding is one of the most important things to do after accepting your offer. Here's how it all works.
Sorting your funding is one of the most important things to do after accepting your offer. Here's how it all works.
My time at university has taught me important things like research and investigation skills, communication skills, teamwork and problem solving.Ciara Anderson | Abertay University | BA (Hons) Accounting and Finance with People Management
If you're a Scottish domiciled student, your tuition fees are paid by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS). You don't pay tuition fees, but you do need to apply to SAAS each year to confirm your funding. This is not automatic.
The SAAS application typically opens in April. We strongly recommend applying before the end of June to make sure everything is in place for September.
You can apply even if:
You're still waiting on your SQA results
You've not yet firmly accepted your offer
You're unsure which university you will attend (you can update this later)
The application takes around 20 minutes. You will need:
Your UCAS personal ID
Your chosen university and course details
Your bank details (for bursary payments)
Your National Insurance number (if you have one)
SAAS can also help with your living costs through bursaries and loans. You can apply for both a bursary and a loan. Most Scottish students use a combination of the two:
Young Students' Bursary: If you're under 25 on the first day of your course, you may be eligible for a non-repayable bursary towards your living costs. The amount depends on your household income. For 2026/27 rates, check the SAAS website.
Student loan: You can also apply for a student loan to help cover living costs. This is repayable after you graduate, but only once you are earning above a certain threshold.
April: SAAS applications open. Apply as soon as you can.
End of June: Recommended deadline. Applying after this may mean a delay in your first payment.
August: Once your place is confirmed after SQA results, SAAS will process your application.
September/October: First payment arrives in your bank account.
If you're from the rest of the UK, you will pay tuition fees for your course. Fees for 2026/27 entry are £9,790 per year.
You can apply for support from your home funding body:
England: Student Finance England (studentfinance.campaign.gov.uk)
Wales: Student Finance Wales (studentfinancewales.co.uk)
Northern Ireland: Student Finance NI (studentfinanceni.co.uk)
All three bodies offer tuition fee loans (paid directly to the university) and maintenance loans (paid to you for living costs). You repay these after graduation, and only once you are earning above a certain threshold.
We offer scholarships and bursaries to help reduce the cost for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Bursaries of up to £1,750 for each year of study are available to students from Northern Ireland, England and Wales (rUK) who are commencing their undergraduate studies in Dundee in the September term and whose household income is assessed as less than £34,000 per year.
VIEW SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
Dundee is one of the most affordable student cities in the UK. Here's a rough guide to what you might spend each month:
| Category | Low | Mid | High |
| Accommodation | £475 | £650 | £1,000+ |
| Food and groceries | £160 | £200 | £250 |
| Transport | £0 | £20 | £50 |
| Internet | £0 | £10 | £30 |
| Social and entertainment | £50 | £75 | £100 |
| Course materials | £10 | £20 | £30 |
| Total | £695 | £975 | £1,460+ |
Key sources: Abertay rent costs, WhatUni Dundee cost of living, Xplore Dundee student tickets, Transport Scotland under-22s scheme, Westport Property guide.
For comparison, average monthly student costs in Edinburgh are typically 15-25% higher, and Glasgow around 10-15% higher, mainly driven by accommodation and transport.
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You can still apply after June, but your first payment may be delayed. Apply as soon as you can to avoid this.
Yes. SAAS funding is confirmed annually. You will need to submit a new application at the start of each academic year.
Yes. SAAS funding is available regardless of age. If you're 25 or over, you may be eligible for the Independent Students' Bursary instead of the Young Students' Bursary. Check the SAAS website for details.
Yes. Many of our students work part-time alongside their studies. Dundee has a strong job market in retail, hospitality and the growing tech sector. Our Careers Service can help you find part-time work.
