Do Bursaries Count as Income ?
The bottom line is No. Bursaries are not counted as “income” to the student. And again, bursaries in South Africa are not repayable.
Below are some details on bursary taxation as a whole.
The Tax Credit (Definition and Calculation of Income) Regulations 2002, Regs. 8 and 9
Student income means:
In England, any adult dependants’ grant which is payable under
- Regulations under section 22 of the Teaching & Higher Education Act 1998(b)
This treatment of income also applies to equivalent provisions in Northern Ireland.
In Wales any adult dependants’ grant which is payable under
- Regulations under section 22 of the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998(d)
In Scotland
- Any adult or child dependant’s grant payable under regulation 4(1)(c) of the Student’s Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007.
Student Income disregarded
The Tax Credit (Definition and Calculation of Income) Regulations 2002, Regs. 8 and 9
When calculating student income disregard in full:
- student loans
- all other grants (for example, to meet the cost of tuition fees, child care, school meals etc)
- payments from Hardship Funds
- access and opportunity bursaries
- disabled student allowances
- in Northern Ireland, low income bursaries for Further and Higher Education Students
- in Scotland, income related bursaries; and
- in Wales income related grants
- scholarship income exempt from income tax by virtue of section 776 ITTOIA
- interest on reimbursement of student loan repayments exempt from income tax by virtue of section 753 ITTOIA
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