Use this free SAAS funding calculator to estimate how much bursary and student loan you could get from the Student Awards Agency Scotland for the 2026/27 academic year. Enter your household income, pick your student type, and see your living cost support and rough monthly payment in seconds.
SAAS Funding Calculator 2026/27
Estimate your bursary and living cost loan for the 2026/27 year. This is a guide, your real award is set by SAAS.
If you are a young student, this is your parents’ or guardians’ combined income before tax. If you are an independent student, use your own income (plus a partner’s, if you have one).
Young student: under 25 and supported by family. Independent student: 25 or over, married or in a civil partnership, have children, or have supported yourself for at least three years.
Tuition fees are paid separately. For eligible Scottish students at a Scottish university, SAAS pays your fees directly to the institution, on top of the figures above. You must apply every year.
Based on the latest published 2025/26 SAAS rates. SAAS confirms 2026/27 rates each spring, so check your SAAS account for your personal award before making plans.
How much SAAS funding will I get?
How much you get depends on your household income and whether you count as a young or independent student. The bursary is income assessed, so lower income households get a larger non repayable bursary, while the living cost loan tops up the rest. Here are the standard young student rates the calculator uses.
| Household income | Bursary | Living cost loan | Total support |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 to £20,999 | £2,000 | £9,400 | £11,400 |
| £21,000 to £23,999 | £1,125 | £9,400 | £10,525 |
| £24,000 to £33,999 | £500 | £9,400 | £9,900 |
| £34,000 or more | £0 | £8,400 | £8,400 |
Independent students follow a similar structure but receive the Independent Students' Bursary of up to £1,000 a year where household income is £20,999 or less. Above that, support is loan only. To see how your award covers rent, food and travel, put your figures into the Student Budget Calculator Scotland.
When will I be paid?
SAAS funding is paid in monthly instalments, normally on the 7th of each month, not in three termly lump sums like the rest of the UK. Your first payment lands once your college or university confirms your registration. For the full month by month schedule, see our SAAS payment dates and application guide.
How to apply for SAAS
Applications usually open in April for the following academic year. To have your money ready for the start of term, apply by the guarantee deadline of 30 June. You can apply before you have a confirmed place, and you need to reapply every year. If you are new to the system, our full guide to how SAAS funding works in Scotland walks through every scenario, including students crossing the border between Scotland and England.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay the bursary back? No. The Young Students' Bursary and the Independent Students' Bursary are grants, so you keep them. Only the living cost loan is repaid, and only once you are earning above the Plan 4 threshold.
Does household income change my loan? Income mainly changes your bursary. Lower income households get a bigger bursary, while the loan makes up the rest of your living cost support. Tuition fees for eligible Scottish students are covered separately.
How many years will SAAS fund? Usually the full length of your first undergraduate degree, plus a possible extra year if you need to repeat or you came through college. You can check the detail in our SAAS guide.
When do repayments start? You repay the loan on Plan 4, taken straight from your salary once you earn over the threshold. To see what your monthly repayment would look like, use the Student Loan Repayment Calculator for Plan 4.
Is this calculator accurate? It gives a close estimate based on the latest published SAAS rates. Your real award depends on your full application and the rates SAAS sets for 2026/27. Always confirm the figure in your SAAS account. See all our Scottish student calculators in one place.