The SNP has announced £30 million of funding to benefit the poorest students at university or on HNC and HND courses at Scotland’s colleges with increases in grants and loans. 

The money will also see an extra £2 million given to students with children to meet childcare costs.

Announcing the funding Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said:

"We recognise the pressures on students during the current economic climate, including the fact that it is now more difficult for them to find part-time work.

"That's why we have already introduced a raft of measures to improve support for students in Scotland from, allocating £38 million to replace loans with grants for 20,000 part-time students a year to increasing hardship funds from the £14.04 million we inherited to £16.44 million this year - a rise of more than 17 per cent. The abolition of the graduate endowment fee is also benefitting more than 50,000 graduates and students by more than £2,000.

"Today's measures will help us build on that and increase the income of around 75,900 students across Scotland in the next academic year, particularly those in greatest need such as students with children and independent students who don't receive any parental help."

Welcoming the announcement Aileen Campbell, Scotland's youngest MSP said:

“This £30 million fund will make a real difference to thousands of Scottish students at colleges and universities.

“The SNP Government is already investing more in Scotland’s students than any previous administration.  

“We have scrapped the graduate endowment fund, put in place grants for part time students and increased hardship funding in response to the recession.

“Today’s announcement will see increased support for all students with funding for childcare, grants for many mature students who may be retraining through the recession, increased support for poorer students on bursaries and access to additional funding at low interest rates.  I particularly like the fact that the students, through the NUS will have a chance to work with the government as to exactly how this funding will be divided."

Students are also welcoming the SNP Government’s announcement.

Liam Burns, NUS Scotland
President, said:

“We are extremely pleased
with the move to support student parents, particularly in light of the problems
with childcare funding experienced last year. We look forward to working with
the Government over the next year to ensure this becomes an entitlement, and not
the lottery students with children currently face.

“The new bursary for
independent students is also a welcome move. Our research has shown that mature
students are more likely to be debt averse than their younger counterparts, and
this helps to encourage non-traditional students into higher education. We do,
however, remain concerned about using the available funds to benefit those
students who need it most, and will continue to work with the Government on the
specifics of the support they are offering.”