Scottish Government

Scotland's Chief Statistician today published statistics on Higher Education Student Support in Scotland 2008-09. These figures provide information on support provided or assessed by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland ( SAAS) to higher education students in Scotland and elsewhere in academic years 2003-04 to 2008-09. The statistics in this release supersede those published by Scotland's Chief Statistician on 25 November 2008.

Key Findings

• Between academic years 2007-08 and 2008-09 the level of total support administered by SAAS increased by 5.2 per cent (or £24.0 million) from £458.6 million to £482.6 million. This was mainly due to increases in fee support. The number of students supported increased by 1.9 per cent (or 2,335) from 122,505 in 2007-08 to 124,845 in 2008-09.
• The number of students receiving non-repayable award payments has fallen in each year since 2005-06. The number of students receiving non-repayable award payments fell by 1.1 per cent (or 640) from 58,230 in 2007-08 to 57,590 in 2008-09. Despite this, the amount paid out increased by 0.2 per cent (or £0.2m) to £105.0 million.
• Fee payments (including fee loans) increased by 12.5 per cent (or £21.1 million) from £169.5 million in 2007-08 to £190.6 million in 2008-09. This is due to the increased fee rates (and fee loans) introduced for new entrants in 2006-07 working their way through the system and an increase in student numbers receiving tuition fees. The overall number of students receiving fee support (including fee loans) has increased by 3.5 per cent (or 3,955) from 114,100 in 2007-08 to 118,055 in 2008-09. This includes a 2.7 per cent rise in those receiving tuition fees.
• The value of loan authorisations increased by 1.4 per cent (or £2.6 million) from £184.3 million in 2007-08 to £187.0 million in 2008-09. This was despite a fall of 1.3 per cent (or 1,005) in the number of students receiving loan authorisations. The increase in amounts authorised is the first since 2002-03 and is mainly due to increases in income assessed loan authorisations. The fall in student numbers follows the trend seen since 2003-04.
• Fee payments accounted for 39.5 per cent of mainstream support administered by SAAS in 2008-09, loan authorisations for 38.7 per cent and award payments for 21.8 per cent.
• In 2008-09 almost three quarters, 74.1 per cent, of students who received SAAS support were studying for a first degree. This is consistent with previous years.
• The number of EU students receiving support from SAAS has increased by 91.9 per cent (or 4,570) from 4,975 in 2003-04 to 9,545 in 2008-09. This includes a 9.9 per cent increase in EU student numbers since 2007-08. EU students receive fee support only. In academic year 2008-09, 92.4 per cent of those supported by SAAS were Scottish domiciles.
• Fee loan payments for students studying outside Scotland in the rest of the UK have more than trebled to £8.6 million since their introduction for new entrants in 2006-07. This increase was due to this support being available to first, second and third year students in 2008-09 compared to only those in their first year in 2006-07 and those in their first and second year in 2007-08.
• Award payments to young students, students with dependents and students with a disability have increased by 16.8 per cent (or £11.3m) from £67.2m in 2003-04 to £78.5 million in 2008-09. This is despite a fall of 2.7 per cent between the two latest years. Award recipients in this group have fallen since 2005-06, mainly due to decreases in Young Students' Bursary numbers.
• In 2008-09, 4,065 students were in receipt of Disabled Students' Allowance payments totalling £8.8 million. This is an increase of 12.2 per cent in terms of students and 9.4 per cent in terms of amounts paid out since 2007-08. Number of recipients and amounts paid out have increased in each year since 2003-04.