Year-long financial support to be offered for north-east undergraduates
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Higher education students can now apply to spread their student financial support package over a 12-month period for the first time this coming academic year.
The year-long package of support will be available for eligible undergraduate students from August 2024.
The change will ensure that payments of relevant student loans and bursaries can continue through the summer months.
This follows a successful two-year programme, which saw care experienced students being given the option of 12-month support.
Care-Experienced students will continue to receive additional support for their living costs under the Summer Accommodation Grant from Summer 2024. Students eligible for the grant - which will replace the Care-Experienced Accommodation Grant - will be entitled to a payment of up to £1330 to help ensure they do not fall into rent arrears over the summer.
These changes will coincide with the £2400 increase to the annual support package, which sees the main undergraduate funding package rise up to £11,400.
Higher Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “The summer months can be a difficult period for learners when their payments stop – these changes will ensure that learners can access the vital funds they need the whole year round.
“This is another example of the actions being taken by the Scottish Government to support students through the cost of living crisis. Scotland already has the lowest student debt levels in the UK, which is thanks to our commitment to free tuition and our enhanced student support offering.
“We are already seeing a record number of students from Scotland’s most deprived areas applying to study at university. The changes made to the student support package will help to further break down barriers and ensure that access to our world-class institutions is not denied to anyone, whatever their background.”
Students can continue to apply for the nine-month support package when they apply through SAAS for the 2024-25 academic year.
The overall annual payment will not change for those on the nine-month or 12-month options.
The only difference will be those who take payments over the full year will see lower monthly payments than those who remain on the standard nine-month plan.
The eligibility of the Summer Accommodation Grant will continue to be the same as the previous Care-Experienced Accommodation Grant. The amounts of grant that students can receive has changed, and from Summer 2024, eligible students in a tenancy agreement will be entitled to receive a grant of £1,330. Eligible students living with family members or friends will be entitled to a grant of £665.
Further information on eligibility for summer support can be found at www.saas.gov.uk.
