Scottish Government

NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

1. The information presented in this News Release is provided by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland ( SAAS), and analysed by the Scottish Government.

2. SAAS administers the student support arrangements for Scottish domiciled higher education students studying throughout the UK and EU students studying in Scotland.

3. Most full-time first degree courses and equivalent level qualifications are covered by SAAS student support, as well as the postgraduate teaching qualifications and some sub-degree courses. Certain other postgraduate qualifications are also covered. Nursing and Midwifery bursary students are supported by SAAS but are not covered in this publication.

4. Since 2001-02, support for new entrants has consisted of up to 3 elements: tuition fees paid by SAAS on behalf of all eligible students (direct to the institution of study); living cost support through a loan extended by the Student Loans Company; and targeted allowances to certain groups of students ( e.g. young students, students with disabilities, students with dependents).

5. Over the period covered in this publication several changes to the student support package available through SAAS occurred. The main changes are outlined below.

Grants & Awards

For undergraduate students, Standard Maintenance Allowance only applies to those who entered the system before 1998-99. In 2001-02 new grants targeted towards young students and students with dependants were introduced.

The Dependants Grant for children and the School Meals Grant were abolished in 2004-05, following the introduction of the new tax credits system.

The Young Students Bursary ( YSB) income thresholds were changed in 2005-06, meaning that more students were eligible for the full amount of YSB. The maximum amount of YSB available to students was also increased in 2005-06.

Student Outside Scotland Bursary ( SOSB) was introduced in 2006-07 for new students studying outside Scotland. Unlike Young Students Outside Bursary ( YSOB), it is claimable by both young and mature students.

Fee Payments

Existing eligible students can apply for fees support and can receive £1,200 which is paid directly to the institution. New students or those returning after a break in study of a year or more can receive £1,700 in fee support.

Fee loans were introduced in 2006-07 for Scottish students who are studying outside of Scotland. Fees are paid direct to the institution on the students' behalf and are repaid by the student in the same way as maintenance loans.

Loan Assessments

Prior to 1999-00 students applied for a loan through their institution and not SAAS. From 1999-00 onwards new entrants have applied to SAAS for a loan. SAAS calculates a student's loan entitlement and the Student Loans Company ( SLC) extends the loan. The data on loans included in this

publication relate to the level of loans assessed by SAAS. This might not match the final loan that a student draws from SLC due to a number of factors such as non-completion of course.

In order to compare the numbers being assessed by SAAS and the final uptake figures of loan from the Student Loans Company ( SLC), figures from the SLC are being included in this publication this year.

Details on loans issued under previous arrangements in the period before 1999-00 are not included in this publication (including mortgage-style repayment loans).

6. The level of income assessed support payable to students is dependent on the unearned income of the student as well as his/her parents' (or spouse's) residual income. The residual income of the parent(s) or spouse is calculated as the total income from all sources (including earned income from employment, income from property / pensions / benefits, interest from savings, etc.) less allowable deductions (such as superannuation contributions, retirement annuity premiums, life assurance premiums (up to 2001-02), interest paid on loans (up to 2001-02), allowances for dependants, etc.). The residual income is then used as the basis for income assessment for awards, fee payments and loans as appropriate.

7. The following classification has been used in this publication to define the level of study of students receiving support. This classification is consistent with other Scottish Government National Statistics publications on higher education.

• Postgraduate: Students attending courses where a first degree qualification is an entry requirement. This includes students doing research or on a course leading to a higher degree, postgraduate diploma or equivalent.
• First Degree: Students on courses leading to a first degree or equivalent.
• Sub-Degree: Students on courses classified as higher education but not classified as postgraduate or first degree, such as HNCs and HNDs.

A small number of the qualification types supported by SAAS do not obviously fall into postgraduate/first degree/other undergraduate levels. For the purposes of this publication these have been coded at first degree level, apart from in Table 4. Although certain students are classed as undertaking postgraduate levels of study, they are funded through the undergraduate support stream. These mainly include PGDE students. However in Table 4 these students are counted under the postgraduate student category.

8. This is a National Statistics publication. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards set out in the National Statistics Code of Practice. They undergo regular quality assurance reviews to ensure that they meet customer needs. They are produced free from any political interference.

9. This news release, together with associated tables listed above, is published on the Scottish Government website at the following address:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/Publications

10. Tables showing the figures contained in the publication back to 1997-98 will also be available on the Scottish Government website at the following address:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/datasets

11. The Student Loans Company recently published data on student loans and outstanding debt and the publication can be accessed via the following address:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Lifelong-learning/PubStudentLoansHE

12. Further information on all aspects of student support provided by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland, including types of support and eligibility, can be found on their website at the following address:

https://www.saas.gov.uk/

For further information ( non-media), enquiries and comments on this news release, please contact:

Ann-Marie Meikle

(0141) 242 0271
Fax. (0141) 242 5455
E-mailfhestatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

For media enquiries please contact:

Marion MacKay
Scottish Government
Press Office
Tel. (0131) 244 3070