Thousands more young students will be eligible for maximum bursaries and an allowance scheme for disabled students is to be extended to include all postgraduate study, under plans announced today by Lifelong Learning Minister Jim Wallace.
Student support changes for 2005/06 mean that the maximum Young Students Bursary (YSB) will go up from £2,150 to £2,395. This is accompanied by a sharp increase in the family income ceiling determining eligibility for a maximum bursary - from £10,740 to £17,500. The number of eligible students is set to increase by around 8,000 as a result.
The Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) scheme - currently available mainly for undergraduate and HNC/HND courses - will be extended to all those undertaking full and part-time postgraduate study.
Meeting students at Aberdeen University, Mr Wallace said:
“We want to support learners from all backgrounds to participate in higher education, and to widen access. These changes will benefit those who most need it - low income families and students with disabilities who face extra barriers to success.
“The Young Students Bursary has already benefited more than 30,000 young people since its introduction four years ago. Now we are providing more generous financial support and increasing eligibility. Bursaries reduce the amount of loan which students need to take out, so these measures reduce the fear of debt and help less well-off families the most.
“I also recognise the important role of the Disabled Students Allowance in helping disabled students compete on a level playing field. The extension of the scheme addresses a gap in provision and should encourage greater progress by disabled students to postgraduate study.”
