View source for Scottish Funding Council

{{Short description|Scottish education funding council}}
{{about|the funding body for Scotland's colleges and universities|the student funding body|Student Awards Agency for Scotland}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2012}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2014}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name              = Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council
| native_name       = {{Lang|gd|Comhairle Maoineachaidh na h-Alba}}
| type              = [[Non-departmental public body]]
| logo              = Scottish Funding Council Logo (2016), Colour, English.jpg
| logo_caption      = The English-language logo of the SFC,{{br}}used since 2008.
| formed            = {{start date|2005|10|5}}<ref name="ssi_2005-no-419">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2005/419/made | title=The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 (Commencement) Order 2005, SSI 2005/419 | publisher=Scottish Government | year=2005 | location=St Andrew's House, Edinburgh}}</ref>
| preceding1        = {{abbr|SFEFC|Scottish Further Education Funding Council}}
| preceding2        = {{abbr|SHEFC|Scottish Higher Education Funding Council}}
| jurisdiction      = [[Scotland]]
| headquarters      = Apex 2,{{br}}97 Haymarket Terrace,{{br}}[[Edinburgh]], [[EH postcode area|EH]]12 5HD
| coordinates       = {{coord|55.9457|-3.2235}}
| motto             = Promoting further and higher education
| employees         = 115 [[Full-time equivalent|FTE]] (2018-19)<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/about-sfc/annual-report/sfc-annual-report.aspx | title=Annual Report and Accounts | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | date=2018 | access-date=30 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527113837/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/about-sfc/annual-report/sfc-annual-report.aspx | archive-date=2016-05-27}}</ref>
| budget            = [[Pound sterling|£]]1.8 billion (2018-19)
| chief1_name       = Mike Cantlay
| chief1_position   = [[Chairperson|Chair]]
| chief2_name       = Francesca Osowska
| chief2_position   = [[Chief Executive]]
| parent_department = [[Scottish Government]]
| keydocument1      = [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/6/contents Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005]
| website           = {{URL|www.sfc.ac.uk}}
}}
{{Multiple image
| direction = vertical
| width     = 280
| image1    = Scottish Funding Council Logo (2016), Colour, English.jpg
| alt1      = The Scottish Funding Council's English-language logo.
| image2    = Scottish Funding Council Logo (2016), Colour, Gàidhlig.jpg
| alt2      = The Scottish Funding Council's Scottish Gaelic logo.
| footer    = The Scottish Funding Council's logo in English and [[Scottish Gaelic]].
}}

The '''Scottish Funding Council''' ([[Scottish Gaelic]]: ''{{Lang|gd|Comhairle Maoineachaidh na h-Alba}}''; '''SFC'''), formally the '''Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council''', is the [[non-departmental public body]] charged with funding [[Scotland]]'s [[Further education|further]] and [[higher education]] institutions, including its 26 [[college]]s and 19 [[university|universities]].<ref name="sfc_about-us_2016">{{cite web|url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/aboutus.aspx |title=About us |publisher=Scottish Funding Council |work=sfc.ac.uk |access-date=27 May 2016 |archive-date=27 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527143444/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/aboutus.aspx |url-status=unfit }}</ref><ref name="gov.scot-npbd-201604">{{cite web | url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies | title=National Public Bodies Directory | publisher=Scottish Government | work=gov.scot | date=April 2016 | access-date=27 May 2016 | archive-date=20 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420064821/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/public-bodies/about/Bodies}}</ref>

The council was established by the [[Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005]]. It supersedes the two separate funding councils, the Scottish Further Education Funding Council (SFEFC) and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council (SHEFC), which were established by the [[Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992]]. On its formation, the SFC acquired all employees and assets of those councils.<ref name="2005-asp-6">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/6/contents | title=Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005 (asp 6) | publisher=Scottish Government | year=2005}}</ref>{{rp|(Sch. 1 ss. 7–9)}}

== History ==

=== Predecessors under the 1992 Act ===
The {{abbr|SFEFC|Scottish Further Education Funding Council}} and {{abbr|SHEFC|Scottish Higher Education Funding Council}} were defined by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992. The Act made further education (FE) institutions independent from [[local authority|local authorities]], a side effect of which was the shifting of funding responsibility from those authorities to the [[Scottish Office]] of [[HM Government]]. This Act also formed a "higher education (HE) sector" in Scotland, transferring various powers and duties related to HE institutions to the funding councils.<ref name="gov.scot_paper_sfefc-shefc-merger">{{cite book | url=http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47237/0029953.pdf | title=A Changing Landscape for Tertiary Education and Research in Scotland: A Consultation Paper on the Merger of the Scottish Further Education Funding Council and the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council | publisher=Scottish Executive | year=2004 | archive-date=27 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527160045/http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/47237/0029953.pdf}}</ref>

The 1992 Act, which was [[Further and Higher Education Act 1992|paralleled by an Act]] applying only to [[England and Wales]],<ref name="gov.scot_paper_sfefc-shefc-merger"/>{{rp|11}} was not [[Coming into force|brought into force]] immediately. Instead, the SHEFC was established by [[Statutory Instrument (UK)|commencement order]] on 1 June 1992,<ref name="si_1998-no-817">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/817/contents/made | title=The Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 1992 (Commencement No. 1 and Saving Provisions) Order 1992, SI 1998/817 | publisher=Scottish Office | year=1992}}</ref>{{rp|(Sch. 2)}} and the SFEFC was established by a further commencement order on 1 January 1999.<ref name="si_1998-no-2887">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/2887/contents/made | title=The Scottish Further Education Funding Council (Establishment) (Scotland) Order 1998, SI 1998/2886 | publisher=Scottish Office | year=1998}}</ref><ref name="ellc_6th-2000_sqa-governance">{{cite book | url=http://archive.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/historic/x-enterprise/reports-00/elr00-06-09.htm | title=Report on the Inquiry into the Governance of the Scottish Qualifications Authority | publisher=Scottish Parliament | year=2000 | archive-date=27 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527170416/http://archive.scottish.parliament.uk/business/committees/historic/x-enterprise/reports-00/elr00-06-09.htm}}</ref>

As part of [[Scottish devolution]] under the [[Scotland Act 1998]], powers, duties, and responsibilities related to the councils and education institutions were, in June 1999, transferred from the Scottish Office to the then-[[Scottish Government#Change of name|Scottish Executive]].<ref name="si_1999-no-1820">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1820/contents/made | title=The Scotland Act 1998 (Consequential Modifications) (No. 2) Order 1999, SI 1999/1820 | publisher=Secretary of State for Scotland | year=1999}}</ref>

=== Establishment through the 2005 Act ===
In April 2004, the Scottish Executive published a consultation paper requesting comment on a possible merger of the SFEFC and SHEFC. The paper cited concerns about the overlapping remits of the two councils{{spaced ndash}}some FE institutions provided HE courses, but funding was allocated based on institution type and not on courses taught<ref name="gov.scot_paper_sfefc-shefc-merger" />{{rp|12}}{{spaced ndash}}and made the case that a single council would be able to fund collaboration between institutions to a greater degree than two separate councils.<ref name="gov.scot_paper_sfefc-shefc-merger" />{{rp|19–21}}

On 20 April 2005, the [[Scottish Parliament]] passed the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) 2005 Act. The Act received [[royal assent]] on 1 June 2005. This Act established the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council, set out its role and functions, and made provision for the [[dissolution (law)|dissolution]] of the SFEFC and SHEFC.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/> The SFC's establishment was brought into force on 3 October 2005, and the SFEFC and SHEFC were dissolved on 8 September 2005.<ref name="ssi_2005-no-419"/>

The SFC was established as a non-departmental public body,<ref name="gov.scot-npbd-201604" /> meaning it operates with partial autonomy from the Scottish Ministers and may act in an advisory role.<ref name="gov-webarchive_public-bodies-reform">{{cite web | url=https://www.gov.uk/public-bodies-reform | title=Public bodies reform | publisher=Cabinet Office | date=June 2011 | access-date=27 May 2016 | archive-date=5 March 2014 | archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140305122816/https://www.gov.uk/public-bodies-reform | url-status=dead}}</ref> The council typically receives a letter of guidance from the [[Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning]] each year. These letters detail the priorities and recommendations of the Scottish Ministers with regard to Scottish colleges and universities.<ref name="sfc_letters-of-guidance">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/letterofguidance/letterofguidance.aspx | title=Letters of Guidance | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602103152/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/letterofguidance/letterofguidance.aspx}}</ref><ref name="sfc_letters-of-guidance_archived">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/letterofguidance/letterofguidance.aspx | title=Letters of Guidance | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602103152/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/letterofguidance/letterofguidance.aspx | url-status=dead }}</ref>

Under [[Addendum|schedule]] 1 of the 2005 Act, the SFC was transferred all staff, property, and liabilities of the SFEFC and SHEFC, effectively merging the two councils. This schedule explicitly did not grant the SFC status as a [[The Crown|Crown servant or agency]], but some resources published by the SFC are still covered by [[Crown copyright]] and the [[Open Government Licence]].<ref name="sfc_crown-copyright">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/home/crown_copyright.aspx | title=Copyright (c) SFC | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=27 May 2016 | archive-date=27 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527183156/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/home/crown_copyright.aspx}}</ref>

Schedule 2 of the Act identified "fundable bodies"{{spaced ndash}}further and higher education bodies that are eligible for funding from the SFC{{spaced ndash}}by listing those bodies formerly covered separately by the SFEFC and SHEFC. Since the establishment of the SFC, this schedule has been amended numerous times to reflect the [[#Fundable bodies|current state of eligibility for SFC funding]].

=== Expansion of remit by the 2013 Act ===
The Scottish Parliament passed, on 26 June 2013, the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013. The Act makes various provisions regarding the governance, structure, and review of FE and HE institutions. The Act also defines ''regional strategic bodies'', and makes them fundable by the SFC.<ref name="2013-asp-12">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2013/12/contents | title=Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013 (asp 12) | publisher=Scottish Government | year=2013}}</ref> Before the introduction of this Act, the SFC had only funded FE institutions (colleges) and HE institutions (universities and select colleges).

A regional strategic body is a [[body corporate]] created under the Act to ensure that the colleges in its assigned region provide high-quality education and to make and oversee the carrying out of plans for its colleges to deliver further and higher education.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(ss. 23E–23F)}}  The Act allows such bodies to provide [[grant (money)|grants]], loans, or other payments to its colleges to fund the provision of further or higher education, to fund research by those colleges, and to fund the provision of related facilities and services by those colleges.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(ss. 12A–12B)}}

=== Colleges reclassification by ONS ===
Effective 1 April 2014, the [[Office for National Statistics]] (ONS) reclassified [[List of further education colleges in Scotland|Scotland's further education colleges]] to the [[public sector]].<ref name="sfc_ons-reclassify-guidance">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidance_college_reclassification/Financial_Guidance_on_Reclassification_for_Incorporated_Colleges.pdf | title=Scottish Further Education Sector - Financial Guidance on Reclassification | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | date=June 2015 | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=7 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507155743/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidance_college_reclassification/Financial_Guidance_on_Reclassification_for_Incorporated_Colleges.pdf}}</ref><ref name="oscr_ons-reclassify-guidance">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidance_college_reclassification/Letter_from_OSCR_on_ONS_reclassification.pdf | title=ONS Reclassification of Colleges and Charitable Status | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | access-date=28 May 2016 | author=Robb, David | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528101850/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidance_college_reclassification/Letter_from_OSCR_on_ONS_reclassification.pdf}}</ref> The effects of this change were that funds held by the college would now count as the Scottish Government's funds, and that college spending from its reserves would count towards annual budget limits.<ref name="sfc_ons-reclassify-guidance_communication-2">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidance_college_reclassification/Reclassification_of_Incorporated_Colleges_Communication_Number_2.pdf | title=Reclassification of Incorporated Colleges - Communication Number 2, Background briefing and questions and answers | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=Reclassification of Incorporated Colleges Communications | date=12 July 2013 | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528103300/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Guidance_college_reclassification/Reclassification_of_Incorporated_Colleges_Communication_Number_2.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|(ss. 1.9, 1.12, 2.5)}} It also meant that a college would only be permitted to maintain as much [[working capital]] as necessary for the college's operation.<ref name="sfc_ons-reclassify-guidance_communication-2"/>{{rp|(s. 2.6.1)}}

== Functions ==
In addition to its main function of funding Scotland's HE and FE institutions, the SFC has other roles and carries out other tasks related to Scotland's education sectors.

In Scotland, colleges and universities are registered charities. However, unlike its English counterpart [[Higher Education Funding Council for England|HEFCE]], the SFC does not act as the charities regulator for colleges and universities. Instead, this role is retained by the [[Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator]] (OSCR).<ref name="oscr_mou_sfc">{{cite book | url=http://www.oscr.org.uk/media/1440/mou-with-scottish-funding-council.pdf | title=Policy Statement for Joint Working: OSCR and the Scottish Funding Council | publisher=Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | year=2007 | archive-date=6 April 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406031240/http://www.oscr.org.uk/media/1440/mou-with-scottish-funding-council.pdf}}</ref> OSCR and the SFC operate under a [[memorandum of understanding]].<ref name="oscr_memoranda-of-understanding">{{cite web | url=http://www.oscr.org.uk/about/our-work/memoranda-of-understanding | title=OSCR {{!}} Memoranda of Understanding | publisher=Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator | work=oscr.org.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=6 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306201422/http://www.oscr.org.uk/about/our-work/memoranda-of-understanding}}</ref>

=== Advisory role ===
The SFC provides advice to the Scottish Ministers relating to Scotland's HE and FE sectors. Specifically, it provides advice regarding how education is being provided, and regarding the research undertaken at HE and FE institutions funded by the SFC. The council is also afforded the right to directly advise and address fundable bodies regarding their SFC-provided funding.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(ss. 16–17)}}

Internally, the SFC is advised by its [[#Committees|committees]] and [[#Advisory groups|advisory groups]].

=== Assessments ===
The SFC is permitted to perform a number of assessments and studies on issues relating to its funding of bodies. Under the 2005 Act, the SFC can assess the efficiency and efficacy of a fundable body's management and operations, as well as the quality of education provided by such bodies.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(ss. 13, 15)}} The assessment duties of the SFC were expanded under the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act to include the promotion of the participation in education of under-represented [[socioeconomic class]]es, and to perform triennial reviews of the participation of those classes.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(ss. 19A–20)}}<ref name="2013-asp-12" />{{rp|(ss. 15–16)}}

== Structure ==

=== Council ===
The council's structure is set out in schedule 1 of the 2005 Act. It consists of a [[chief executive]], a [[chairperson]], and between 11 and 14 members. Excluding the chief executive, all council members are appointed by the Scottish Ministers. An appointment typically lasts for no more than four years, but may be extended to eight years by the Ministers. The chief executive is appointed by the council, subject to ministerial approval.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(Sch. 1)}}

The 2005 Act doesn't set out the proceedings of council, instead allowing the council to regulate its own proceedings. The council does this through a set of [[Parliamentary procedure|standing orders]], a [[code of conduct]], and a written scheme of delegation – a document outlining how and to whom the council delegates its authority.<ref name="sfc_governance">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/governance_of_the_council/about_us_governance.aspx | title=Governance of the Council | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602144533/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/governance_of_the_council/about_us_governance.aspx}}</ref>

==== Committees ====
Under the council there are six committees, each tasked with advising on and overseeing various areas of the council's operation.<ref name="sfc_committees-and-advisory-groups">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Committees.aspx | title=Committees and advisory groups | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602182024/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Committees.aspx}}</ref> The various committees oversee areas such as improving knowledge of the skills required by the [[Scottish economy]] in partnership with [[Skills Development Scotland]];<ref name="sfc_committee_skills">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/skills_committee/about_us_committees_skills.aspx | title=Skills Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602182334/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/skills_committee/about_us_committees_skills.aspx}}</ref> supporting research and [[knowledge exchange]] by HE and FE institutions;<ref name="sfc_committee_rkec">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/RKEC/council_committees_rkec.aspx | title=Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602185811/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/RKEC/council_committees_rkec.aspx}}</ref> reporting on and promoting [[social equality|equality]], diversity, and participation in education;<ref name="sfc_committee_access-inclusion">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/access_inclusion_committee/council_committees_access.aspx | title=Access and Inclusion Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602190818/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/access_inclusion_committee/council_committees_access.aspx}}</ref> monitoring the financial performance of the HE and FE sectors, and monitoring the council's internal [[risk management]], [[corporate governance]], and auditing;<ref name="sfc_committee_audit-compliance">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/audit_committee/council_committees_audit.aspx | title=Audit and Compliance Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602191356/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/audit_committee/council_committees_audit.aspx}}</ref> monitoring and reporting on the internal finance matters of the council;<ref name="sfc_committee_finance">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/FinanceCommittee/finance_committee.aspx | title=Finance Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602191901/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/FinanceCommittee/finance_committee.aspx}}</ref> and making decisions, with the agreement of the Scottish Government,<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(Sch. 1 para. 5)}} on [[remuneration]] for the council's chair, chief executive, directors, and members.<ref name="sfc_committee_remuneration">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/remuneration_committee/remuneration_committee.aspx | title=Remuneration Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602192347/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Councilcommittees/remuneration_committee/remuneration_committee.aspx}}</ref>

Two of the committees, the ''Skills'' and ''Research &amp; Knowledge Exchange'' committees, were required to be established under the 2005 Act.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(Sch. 1 paras. 11–12)}}

=== Advisory groups ===

==== Innovation Scotland Forum ====
''Innovation Scotland'' is a joint initiative between the SFC, [[Scottish Enterprise]], and [[Highlands and Islands Enterprise]] to promote [[entrepreneurship]] and encourage collaboration between Scottish universities and businesses. The ''Innovation Scotland Forum'' is a [[working group]] which discusses related national policy, and provides advice to the SFC and the Scottish Government.<ref name="sfc_innovationscotland">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/innovationscotlandforum | title=Innovation Scotland Forum | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602112518/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/innovationscotlandforum}}</ref>

==== College European Funding Liaison Group ====
The ''College European Funding Liaison Group'' (CEFLG) is responsible for advising the council on matters relating to the [[European Social Fund]] (ESF), including providing guidance to colleges, monitoring and regulation relating to ESF grants and European projects, and related data collection.<ref name="sfc_ceflg">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Advisorygroups/CEFLG/CEFLG.aspx | title=College European Funding Liaison Group (CEFLG) | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602112840/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Advisorygroups/CEFLG/CEFLG.aspx}}</ref>

==== Institutional Group on Statistics ====
The ''Institutional Group on Statistics'' (IGS) provides advice on and gathers statistics on higher education institutions, and participates in activities by the [[Higher Education Statistics Agency]].<ref name="sfc_institutional-group-on-statistics">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Advisorygroups/IGS/IGS_committee.aspx | title=Institutional Group on Statistics Committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=3 June 2016 | archive-date=3 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603155820/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Advisorygroups/IGS/IGS_committee.aspx}}</ref>

==== Statistical Advisory Group for Further Education ====
The ''Statistical Advisory Group for Further Education'' (SAGE) is the equivalent of the IGS for further education institutions.<ref name="sfc_sage">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Advisorygroups/SAGE/sage_committee.aspx | title=Statistical Advisory Group for Further Education committee | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=3 June 2016 | archive-date=3 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603155925/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/Committees/Advisorygroups/SAGE/sage_committee.aspx}}</ref>

=== Directorates ===
The employees of the SFC are split across four [[wikt:directorate|directorates]], each working in the various areas of the council's operation.<ref name="sfc_staff">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/Staff.aspx | title=Staff | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602151738/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/Staff.aspx}}</ref> The directorates are headed by employees of the council rather than by council members.<ref name="sfc_directorate_access-skills-oa">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffAccessSkillsandOutcomeAgreements.aspx | title=Access, Skills and Outcome Agreements | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602152406/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffAccessSkillsandOutcomeAgreements.aspx}}</ref><ref name="sfc_directorate_finance">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffFinanceDirectorate.aspx | title=Finance Directorate | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602152846/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffFinanceDirectorate.aspx}}</ref><ref name="sfc_directorate_corporate-services">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffCorporateServicesDirectorate.aspx | title=Corporate Services Directorate | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602153105/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffCorporateServicesDirectorate.aspx}}</ref><ref name="sfc_directorate_research-and-innovation">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffResearchandInnovationDirectorate.aspx | title=Research and Innovation Directorate | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602153618/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/StaffResearchandInnovationDirectorate.aspx}}</ref><ref name="sfc_council_membership">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/council_membership/council_membership.aspx | title=Council Membership | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602162452/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/council_board_committees/council_membership/council_membership.aspx}}</ref>

==== Access, Skills and Outcome Agreements ====
The ''Access, Skills and Outcome Agreements Directorate'' is responsible for the preparation of the [[#Outcome agreements|outcome agreements]] the council makes with fundable bodies, and has responsibilities relating to access to and the quality of education.

==== Finance ====
The ''Finance Directorate'' is responsible for the application of SFC funds in relation to outcome agreements, the protection of SFC funds, and for providing guidance to FE colleges.

==== Corporate Services ====
The ''Corporate Services Directorate'' has responsibility for council communications, project delivery, [[website]] administration, [[human resources management]], and [[information technology]].

==== Research and Innovation ====
The ''Research and Innovation Directorate'' is responsible for research, knowledge sharing between [[#Innovation centres|Innovation Centres]], development of the [[Research Excellence Framework]], and liaison with [[Bòrd na Gàidhlig]] and [[NHS Education for Scotland]]. The directorate also provides guidance and funding to the SFC's fundable bodies for work towards compliance with the [[Climate Change Act 2008]].

A team within the directorate is the ''Capital and Climate Change'' team, which works with HE and FE institutions for compliance with the [[Climate Change Act 2008]] and to assist those institutions with funding for [[low-carbon]] research.<ref name="sfc_directorate_research-and-innovation_capital-and-climate-change">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/CapitalClimateChange.aspx | title=Capital and Climate Change team | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=2 June 2016 | archive-date=2 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602170548/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/aboutus/Staff/CapitalClimateChange.aspx}}</ref>

== Funding ==

=== Outcome agreements ===
Each institution funded by the SFC secures its funding under an outcome agreement. The agreements define what the institution will do with the funds and the targets it must achieve with those funds.<ref name="sfc_outcome-agreements">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/funding/OutcomeAgreements/OutcomeAgreementsOverview.aspx | title=Outcome Agreements | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528105856/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/funding/OutcomeAgreements/OutcomeAgreementsOverview.aspx}}</ref> If an institution fails to follow the agreement, the SFC may [[claw back]] funds from that institution.<ref name="sfc_circular_sfc-17-2012">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Circulars_SFC172012/SFC1712.pdf | title=College student support funds: outcome of the in-year management of student support funds for AY 2012-13 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2012 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528110137/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Circulars_SFC172012/SFC1712.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|3}} In 2009, the SFC threatened to claw back money from [[Stow College]] after it claimed £988{{thinsp}}000 in funding for courses that the [[Auditor General for Scotland]] deemed to have been ineligible.<ref name="herald_stow-college-clawback">{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12392482.Claw_back_of_cash_from_Stow_could_have_big_impact/ | title=Claw-back of cash from Stow could have big impact | work=The Herald|location=Glasgow | date=4 June 2009 | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528112129/http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12392482.Claw_back_of_cash_from_Stow_could_have_big_impact/ | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="ags_stow-college_2007-08">{{cite book | url=http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/uploads/docs/report/2009/s22_090424_stow_college.pdf | title=The 2007/2008 Audit of Stow College | publisher=Audit Scotland | year=2009 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528111607/http://www.audit-scotland.gov.uk/uploads/docs/report/2009/s22_090424_stow_college.pdf}}</ref> After reviewing the eligibility of the college's programmes for funding, the SFC clawed back £2.88 million, to be paid over seven years starting November 2009.<ref name="stowcollege_annual-accounts_2012">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Governance_FinancialStatements1112/Stow_College_Annual_Report_Financial_Statements_2011-12.pdf | title=Stow College - Financial Statement for the Year Ended 31 July 2012 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2012 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528111919/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Governance_FinancialStatements1112/Stow_College_Annual_Report_Financial_Statements_2011-12.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|4}}

For example, the 2014-17 outcome agreement for [[Edinburgh College]] included targets such as raising non-SFC income from 29% to 35% of the college's total income, raising the number of full-time students on [[work placement]]s from 1419 to 5000, and raising the proportion of women enrolled in construction and engineering courses from 6.7% to 7.4%.<ref name="sfc_edincoll-outcome-agreement_2014-17">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Funding_Outcome_Agreements_2014-15/Edinburgh_and_the_Lothians_Region_Outcome_Agreement_2014-17.pdf | title=Edinburgh and the Lothians Region: Edinburgh College Outcome Agreement 2014-17 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | access-date=29 May 2016 | archive-date=29 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529141852/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Funding_Outcome_Agreements_2014-15/Edinburgh_and_the_Lothians_Region_Outcome_Agreement_2014-17.pdf}}</ref>{{rp|(pp. 14, 18–19)}}

=== Student support ===
For students in higher education, the [[Student Awards Agency for Scotland]] (SAAS) provides [[tuition fees]], [[bursaries]], and loans. "Higher education" covers courses at [[Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework]] (SCQF) level 7 and above, including [[Higher National Certificate]]s and [[Higher National Diploma]]s but excluding [[Advanced Higher]]s.<ref name="qaa_qualifications-can-cross-boundaries">{{cite book | url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/publications/documents/qualifications-can-cross-boundaries.pdf | title=Qualifications can cross boundaries: A guide to comparing qualifications in the UK and Ireland | publisher=The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education | year=2014 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528130554/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/publications/documents/qualifications-can-cross-boundaries.pdf}}</ref><ref name="gov.scotr_definitions-of-levels-of-study">{{cite web | url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/StudyLevels | title=Definitions of Levels of Study | publisher=Scottish Government | work=gov.scot | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528133318/http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/StudyLevels}}</ref><ref name="scqf_handbook-june-2011">{{cite book | url=http://scqf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SCQF-handbook-INTERACTIVE-FINAL-June-2011.pdf | title=SCQF Handbook: User Guide | publisher=The SCQF Partnership | year=2011 | archive-date=7 November 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107104240/http://scqf.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/SCQF-handbook-INTERACTIVE-FINAL-June-2011.pdf | url-status=dead}}</ref>{{rp|(pp. 126–128)}}

For students in further education, the SFC provides funding to the college, and that college then distributes the funds to students. The courses covered are generally at SCQF level 5 ([[National 5]] or a [[Modern Apprenticeship]]) or level 6 ([[Higher (Scottish)|Higher]] or [[National Certificate#Scotland|National Certificate]]).<ref name="gov.scotr_definitions-of-levels-of-study"/> The funds the SFC provides are used by colleges to provide bursaries, [[Education Maintenance Allowance]], as well as to fund each college's discretionary funds.<ref name="sfc_student-support">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/funding/colleges/student_support/student_support.aspx | title=Student support | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=27 May 2016 | archive-date=27 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527210852/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/funding/colleges/student_support/student_support.aspx}}</ref><ref name="sfc_fedc-guidance-2016-17">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/GUI_SFCGD062016_201617NationalpolicyFurtherEducationDi/SFCGD062016_FE_discretionary_fund_policy_2016-17.pdf | title=2016-17 National policy: Further Education Discretionary Fund | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2016 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528141511/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/GUI_SFCGD062016_201617NationalpolicyFurtherEducationDi/SFCGD062016_FE_discretionary_fund_policy_2016-17.pdf}}</ref>

=== Innovation centres ===
The '''Innovation Centres programme''' is a joint initiative between the SFC, Scottish Enterprise, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise to fund collaboration between universities and businesses, and to promote entrepreneurship. The SFC has stated that it will provide £120 million in funding through 2013 to 2018 and, as of June 2016, has funded eight Innovation Centres:<ref name="sfc_innovation-centre">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/innovationcentres | title=Innovation Centres | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | work=sfc.ac.uk | access-date=3 June 2016 | archive-date=3 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603101259/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/innovationcentres}}</ref>

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* [[Digital Health &amp; Care Institute]]
* [[Stratified Medicine Scotland]]
* [[Centre for Sensor and Imaging Systems]] (CENSIS)
* [[Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre]] (IBioIC)
* [[Scottish Aquaculture Innovation Centre]] (SAIC)
* [[Oil &amp; Gas Innovation Centre]] (OGIC)
* [[Construction Scotland Innovation Centre]] (CSIC)
* [[The Data Lab]]
}}

Some of the centres are located at Scottish universities, including [[Stirling University]] (SAIC), the [[Queen Elizabeth University Hospital]] (Stratified Medicine), and the [[University of Edinburgh]] (the Data Lab).<ref name="sfc_innovation-centres_brochure">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/InnovationCentres/Scotlands_Innovation_Centres.pdf | title=Scotland's Innovation Centres: Driving Demand Led Innovation | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2015 | archive-date=3 June 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603101400/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/InnovationCentres/Scotlands_Innovation_Centres.pdf}}</ref> The Innovation Centres are not listed as [[#Fundable bodies|fundable bodies]], and so are not eligible for funding the same sense HE and FE institutions are.<ref name="2005-asp-6"/>{{rp|(Sch. 2–2A)}}

=== Fundable bodies ===
A fundable body is a body which is eligible to receive funding from the SFC, as listed by schedules 2 and 2A of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005.<ref name="2005-asp-6" />{{rp|(ss. 6, 12)}} These schedules have been amended numerous times as bodies have been created, merged, and dissolved.<ref name="2005-asp-6_amendments-201605">{{cite web | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/changes/affected/asp/2005/6?results-count=5000 | title=Changes that affect Acts of the Scottish Parliament in 2005 numbered 6 | publisher=National Archives | work=legislation.gov.uk | date=28 May 2016 | access-date=28 May 2016 | archive-date=28 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160528142325/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/changes/affected/asp/2005/6?results-count=5000}}</ref> Those bodies currently listed in the schedules are given below.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center; width: 100%;"
|+ style="margin-bottom: 0.25em;" | Bodies eligible for SFC funding as of May 2025
|-
! colspan="4" | Universities and Higher Education Institutions
|-
| [[Abertay University]]
| [[Edinburgh Napier University]]
| [[Glasgow Caledonian University]]
| [[Glasgow School of Art]]
|-
| [[Heriot-Watt University]]
| [[The Open University]]
| [[Queen Margaret University]]
| [[Royal Conservatoire of Scotland]]
|-
| [[University of Aberdeen]]
| [[University of Dundee]]
| [[University of Edinburgh]]
| [[University of Glasgow]]
|-
| [[University of the Highlands and Islands]]
| [[University of St. Andrews]]
| [[University of Stirling]]
| [[University of Strathclyde]]
|-
| [[University of the West of Scotland]]
|-
! colspan="4" | Further Education Colleges
|-
| [[Ayrshire College]]
| [[Borders College]]
| [[City of Glasgow College]]
| [[Coatbridge College]]
|-
| [[Dumfries and Galloway College]]
| [[Dundee and Angus College]]
| [[Edinburgh College]]
| [[Fife College]]
|-
| [[Forth Valley College]]
| [[Glasgow Clyde College]]
| [[Glasgow Kelvin College]]
| [[Inverness College]]
|-
| [[Lews Castle College]]
| [[Moray College]]
| [[New College Lanarkshire]]
| [[Newbattle Abbey College]]
|-
| [[North East Scotland College]]
| [[North Highland College]]
| [[Orkney College]]
| [[Perth College UHI]]
|-
| [[Sabhal Mòr Ostaig]]
| [[Shetland College]]
| [[South Lanarkshire College]]
| [[West College Scotland]]
|-
| [[West Highland College UHI]]
| [[West Lothian College]]
|-
! colspan="4" | Other Institutions
|-
| [[The Robert Gordon University]]{{efn|The Robert Gordon University appears in ''Other Institutions'' because its structure was changed such that the university itself was incorporated rather than the [[University Court|university's governing body]].<ref name="ssi_2006-no-480">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2006/480/contents/made | title=The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2006, SSI 2006/480 | publisher=Scottish Government | year=2006}}</ref>}}
| [[SRUC]]{{efn|Scotland's Rural College ("SRUC" in the schedule) appears in ''Other Institutions'' as a result of the amendments by SSI{{thinsp}}2008/241<ref name="ssi_2008-no-241">{{cite book | url=http://origin-www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2008/241/made | title=The Fundable Bodies (The Scottish Agricultural College) (Scotland) Order 2008, SSI 2008/241 | publisher=Scottish Government | year=2008}}</ref> – which placed the [[Scottish Agricultural College]] in this section – and SSI{{thinsp}}2013/319,<ref name="ssi_2013-no-319">{{cite book | url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2013/319/made | title=The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2013, SSI 2013/319 | publisher=Scottish Government | year=2013}}</ref> which replaced the Scottish Agricultural College with SRUC.}}
|-
! colspan="4" | Regional Boards
|-
| [[Regional Board for Glasgow Colleges]]
|-
! colspan="4" | Other Regional Strategic Bodies
|-
| [[New College Lanarkshire]]
| [[University of the Highlands and Islands]]
|}
{{notelist}}

Some amendments to the list of fundable bodies have caused a single body to appear in multiple categories. The bodies listed here were added by one of:

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|
* Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005
* The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2005
* The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2006
* The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) (No. 2) Order 2007
* The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2008
* The Fundable Bodies (University of the Highlands and Islands) Order 2011
* The Fundable Bodies (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) Order 2011
* The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2012
* The Fundable Bodies (Scotland) Order 2013
* Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013
* The Lanarkshire Colleges Order 2014
}}

Other orders designating fundable bodies exist, but the bodies designated therein were removed by later orders or Acts.

=== Budget ===
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+ style="margin-bottom: 0.25em;" | SFC budget, 2010–2015
|-
! ±
! Period
! style="min-width: 5.5em;" | Volume
! style="min-width: 4.5em;" | Change
|-
| {{Steady}}
| 2010/11<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2010-11">{{cite book | url=http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/12958/7/SFC_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2010-11_Redacted.pdf | title=Financial Year 2010-11: Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2011 | archive-date=29 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529161331/http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/12958/7/SFC_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2010-11_Redacted.pdf | url-status=dead}}</ref>
| £ {{right|1,657 M}}
| {{n/a}}
|-
| {{Increase}}
| 2011/12<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2011-12">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2011-12.pdf | title=Annual Report and Accounts 2011-12 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2012 | archive-date=7 May 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130507003454/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_Annual_Report_and_Accounts_2011-12.pdf}}</ref>
| £ {{right|1,672 M}}
| {{right|0.96%}}
|-
| {{Increase}}
| 2012/13<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2012-13">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_2012-13.pdf | title=Annual Report and Accounts 2012-13 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2013 | archive-date=29 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529162519/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_2012-13.pdf}}</ref>
| £ {{right|1,702 M}}
| {{right|1.76%}}
|-
| {{Increase}}
| 2013/14<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2013-14">{{cite book | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_2013-14.pdf | title=Annual Report and Accounts 2013-14 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | year=2014 | archive-date=29 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529163212/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/ReportsandPublications/SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_2013-14.pdf}}</ref>
| £ {{right|1,728 M}}
| {{right|1.50%}}
|-
| {{Decrease}}
| 2014/15<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2014-15">{{cite web | url=http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Corporate_publications_SFCCP012016_AnnualReportandAccounts201415/SFC_CP_01_2016_SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_201415.pdf | title=Annual Report and Accounts 2014-15 | publisher=Scottish Funding Council | date=27 January 2016 | access-date=27 May 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527113837/http://www.sfc.ac.uk/web/FILES/Corporate_publications_SFCCP012016_AnnualReportandAccounts201415/SFC_CP_01_2016_SFC_annual_report_and_accounts_201415.pdf | archive-date=27 May 2016}}</ref>
| £ {{right|1,711 M}}
| {{right|0.98%}}
|}

The SFC itself is primarily funded by the Scottish Government, but its budget also receives minor contributions from HM Government, the European Social Fund (ESF), and from claw-back arrangements with fundable bodies. For the period 2014/15, the SFC's £1.71 billion budget was composed of £1.67 billion (97.6%) from the Scottish Government, £22.05 million (1.29%) from HEFCE, £11.64 million (0.68%) from the [[Department for Business, Innovation and Skills]], £6.34 million (0.37%) from claw-back arrangements, and £1.12 million (0.06%) from the ESF.<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2014-15"/>{{rp|57–58}}

From 2010 to 2015, the SFC's budget increased by a net £54 million, or 3.16%.<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2014-15"/><ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2010-11"/>

From this budget, the SFC provided £1.702 billion in funding in its 2014/15 [[financial year]], of which £1.124 billion was paid to HE institutions and £577.9 million was paid to FE institutions.<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2014-15"/>{{rp|44}} Of the funds distributed to FE institutions, £453.4 million was general funding, £106.4 million was student support funding, and £18.1 million was classified as "capital and major works" funding.<ref name="sfc_annual-accounts_2014-15"/>{{rp|52}} The remainder of its budget was put towards costs associated with the operation of the SFC.

== See also ==
*[[Medr (Wales)]]
*[[Office for Students]]
*[[Department for the Economy|Higher education division of the Department for the Economy]]
*[[Universities Scotland]]
*[[Re-Engineering Assessment Practices]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Official website|http://www.sfc.ac.uk/}}
{{Public bodies of the Scottish Government}}{{Scottish education}}{{authority control}}

[[Category:Executive non-departmental public bodies of the Scottish Government|Further and Higher Education Funding Council]]
[[Category:Education in Scotland]]
[[Category:Education policy in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Funding bodies of Scotland|Funding Council]]
[[Category:Further education colleges in Scotland]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Government agencies established in 2005]]
[[Category:Higher education in Scotland]]
[[Category:Higher education organisations based in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Universities in Scotland]]