Scots students see debt burdens rise

The an annual report, details a range of statistics and information around the numbers of students receiving support in Scotland, and the amounts they receive.

Key findings from the 2016/17 report include:

Luke Humberstone, President of NUS Scotland, said: “Today’s figures reinforce the need for root and branches reform to the financial support available to students in Scotland, especially for those form the poorest backgrounds. It’s particularly concerning to see a drop in the average bursary going to students in the lowest income bracket, while the amount of loan going to those students continues to rise.

“There’s growing consensus that a system that sees the poorest students take on the most debt is unsustainable. If we want to achieve the targets we’ve set ourselves in creating an accessible education system, we have to ensure we have a support system which works for all students.

“It’s absolutely right that the Scottish Government continues to maintain their commitment to free tuition, but this doesn’t mean our education system is free. Increasing uptake of loans to meet living costs means average graduate debt is to reach record highs in the coming years.

“The Scottish Government’s decision to commission an independent review of student support was a huge step towards fixing the problems that exist in our current system. With the review set to report later this year and a budget on the horizon, it is vital that the Government puts fixing the student support system at the heart of their commitment to education in the year ahead.”