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Higher Education Student Support in Scotland 2007-08
25/11/2008
Scotland's Chief Statistician today published statistics on Higher Education Student Support in Scotland in 2007-08. 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 the academic years 2002-2003 to 2007-2008.
Key findings include:
- The level of all types of support administered by SAAS increased by four per cent in the academic year 2007-2008 to £458.6 million. The number of students supported increased by 0.4 per cent to 122,505.
- In 2007-2008 the amount paid out as non-repayable awards increased by 1.9 per cent, fee payments increased by 11.4 per cent and the value of loan authorisations decreased by 0.8 per cent compared with the previous year. The decrease in loan authorisations follows the trend seen since 2002-2003.
- Award payments accounted for 22.9 per cent of mainstream support administered by SAAS in 2007-2008, fee payments accounted for 37 per cent and loan authorisations for 40.2 per cent.
- The number of EU students receiving support from SAAS has increased by 93.8 per cent to 8,680 between 2002-2003 and 2007-2008. EU students receive fee support only. In 2007-2008, 92.9 per cent of those supported by SAAS were Scottish domiciles.
- Fee payments totalled £169.5 million in 2007-2008, an increase of 11.4 per cent on the previous year. This is mainly due to the increase in tuition fees introduced for new entrants in 2006-2007 applying to both new entrants and those in their second year in 2007-2008.
- Fee loan payments for students studying outside Scotland in the rest of the UK increased by 106.8 per cent to £5.6 million since their introduction for new entrants in 2006-2007. This increase was due to this support being available to first and second year students in 2007-2008, compared to only first year students the previous year.
- Award payments to young students, students with dependents and students with a disability have increased by 36.8 per cent since 2002-2003 to £80.7 million, or by 0.4 per cent since 2006-2007.
- In 2007-2008 3,625 students were in receipt of Disabled Students Allowance payments totalling £8.1 million. This is an increase of 7.1 per cent in terms of students and 6.7 per cent in terms of amounts paid out since 2006-2007.
The figures in this publication supersede those published on November 13, 2007.
The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) administers the student support arrangements for Scottish domiciled higher education students studying throughout the UK and EU students studying in Scotland.
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.
Since 2001-02, support for new entrants has consisted of up to three elements: tuition fees paid by SAAS on behalf of all eligible students (direct to the institution of study) or tuition fee loans; 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).
Each year student support levels and income thresholds are uprated by the forecasted Retail Price Index excluding mortgage payments (RPIX).