NUS Scotland warn support shortfalls remain despite Education Secretary Angela Constance awarding student bursary bonus

Students have welcomed an additional £125 bursary payment announced by Angela Constance but warned the system of student support still faces “significant shortfalls”.

All eligible students who receive bursary at their university or college will receive an additional £125 from next week.

£1,173,000 has also been reallocated from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) to assist with discretionary funds at 18 universities and colleges in Scotland.

The National Union of Students (NUS) in Scotland welcomed the move. President Vonnie Sandlan paid tribute to NUS activists who had lobbied for it.

“In a system where our poorest students are often taking on the highest levels of debt to access an education, it’s particularly welcome to see extra cash being made available in the form of grants, instead of further loans.

“However, we know that many students are taking no loan support and struggling by just on the bursary that is available, and we need to see continued improvements to protect those students. Without access to the necessary student support there’s very real worry that students will take on unmanageable levels of paid work or commercial debt, or drop out of education altogether,” she said.

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesman Liam McArthur said the announcement was not enough to tackle rising student debt.

“One of the main reasons for this increase in student debt is the dwindling level of support available. The total value of grants and bursaries for Scottish university students has fallen by over a third in the past decade,” he said.

Constance said Scottish students had the lowest levels of debt in the UK.

“In contrast to the UK government, which is abolishing maintenance grants entirely for new students in England from 2016-17, this increase will put more money in the pockets of the hardest pressed students in Scotland,” she said.