Thousands of students to get extra support

Poorer students in Scotland are to get a hike in their support package, it was announced today.

Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Angela Constance has revealed further bursaries. Picture: Gordon Fraser

Education Secretary Angela Constance revealed that bursaries for students from homes with an income of up to £24,000 will increase by £125 in the next academic year.

And more will be able to claim the maximum bursary after the income threshold was raised up from £17,000 to £19,000 for the following year (2016/17).

Thousands of students are poised to benefit, including those who study elsewhere in the UK, Ms Constance said today.

“The Scottish Government is committed to creating a fairer, more equal Scotland and as part of that we want every child in Scotland to have the same chance of going to university, irrespective of their background,” she told a conference at Strathclyde University.

“Education should be based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.

“Widening access to Higher Education has long been a priority of this government to ensure every young person who wants to attend university is not prevented by their economic or social circumstances. The Commission on Widening Access, chaired by Dame Ruth Silver started work on this last month with a view to providing a final report in Spring 2016.”

The First Minister announced ae Commission on Widening Access in November, with the aim of moving towards 20 per cent of university entrants coming from the most disadvantaged 20 per cent of society.