Scottish student debt rising at fastest rate in UK

The statistics show that while Scotland continues to have the lowest student debt in the whole of the UK by a significant margin, it is steadily increasing.

In total, the amount lent to Scottish higher education students in 2015-16 was £548.3m, an increase of 6 per cent on 2014-15, with an average amount per student of £10,500.

The average debt of Scottish graduates in 2014/15 was £10,500 after a rise of nearly 12 per cent.

Students from England, where tuition fees of up to £9,000 are charged, are now leaving university with average debts of £24,640.

Debts are £19,720 in Northern Ireland and £16,120 in Wales.

The new figures showing the increasing financial strain on Scottish students saw Student body NUS Scotland call for a Scottish Government review to look at the reintroduction of grants for the poorest.

Vonnie Sandlan, NUS Scotland President, warned that the increasing financial burden was forcing students to turn to commercial debt, take on unreasonable amounts of part-time work, or even drop out of education altogether.

He said:“NUS Scotland worked incredibly hard to see increased student support, and fully supported previous reforms that saw the amount of support students could access markedly increase – but it can’t be escaped that this came through higher loans, rather than grants. While increases would have been preferable in grants, and no increases at all would have been unacceptable, it’s clear we need to look again at the support we provide for students, particularly our poorest and most in-need. Despite all the progress made during the last Parliament on improving our record on widening access to higher education, there’s still much more to do, and that must include addressing the financial support available to students.

“It’s right that we’ve maintained free education in Scotland, and these figures show that it’s played a big part in keeping higher education more affordable and debt levels down. But ‘free education’ can’t just be about the price tag, and we must look at the wider cost of studying.

“We were pleased this week to hear the Scottish Government reiterate their commitment to a full review of the current student support system. That review could build on the work of the widening access commission, and ensure that we have the support in place to not just help people into education, but to stay there and reach their full potential.”

Mary Senior, Scotland official for the UCU Scotland union, which represents lecturers, also called for an investigation.

She said: “It’s good news that Scottish students’ debt levels on graduation are the lowest in the UK, but worrying that they’re increasing. The Scottish Government does need to urgently review current student support provision.

“Alongside proposals to widen access, we need to ensure the often mentioned term free education actually means what it says and that students can access university without graduating with debt.”

The Scottish Liberal Democrats criticised the SNP for “failing” students from poor backgrounds.

Tavish Scott, the party’s education spokesman, said: “Despite the SNP’s rhetoric, student debt has soared during their years in power.

“The average student debt in Scotland has risen far quicker than any other part of the UK.”

However, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Minister for Higher Education, said the policy of free tuition was a “huge factor” in ensuring student loan debt in Scotland was the lowest in the UK.

She said: “We welcome the fact students start their working lives with significantly lower levels of student loan debt than if we pursued the same market driven policies as elsewhere in the UK.

“We will always take the opportunity to improve student support which is why in 2016/17 eligibility for the maximum bursary of £1875 will expand for students who live at home in a household with an income of up to £19,000.”