Current Projects
An informal review of FE student support, HE student support, Education Maintenance Allowances and Individual Learning Accounts was carried out in 2004. It had the objective of making or recommending changes to improve the coherence, equity and effectiveness of the overall provision of learner funding in accordance with learner support principles.
As a result of the final report's recommendations the Scottish Government is carrying out several projects. The following projects are ongoing:
Part-time
The first stage of this project (Part 1) was set up in March 2005 to consider the current evidence base and clarify definitions of part-time study. It reported its findings in September 2006 and full details are available from the Part-Time 1 Project page.
The outcomes of the Part Time Project (Part 1) will inform a follow up project to develop and implement improved funding mechanisms and review the current definitions of part-time study (ie must be 50% or more of full-time course). This project started in October 2006 and full details are available from the Part-Time Project (Part 2) page.
Postgraduate Students Allowances Scheme (PSAS)
This project will seek to:
establish a clear robust and equitable policy rationale for support for students undertaking short-term taught postgraduate courses
improve the administration, coherence and effectiveness of support for students undertaking short-term taught postgraduate courses
This project started in March 2005 and is currently looking at the support available for all postgraduate students. Full details of the project is avaiable on the postgraduate students page.
Meanstest
This project will look at the current meanstest in HE and FE. We are looking to introduce some changes to the means test in academic year 08/09.
Previous Study Rules
We are carrying out a project to review funding for undergraduate study by those who already have degrees or have received funding. This project will consider the existing exemptions to the previous study rules, looking at the rationale for those exemptions, and will revise the overall policy rationale for funding further study at HE level.
Review of the Disabled Students Project
As a result of the recommendations contained in the Funding for Disabled Students project, the Review of the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) project has been set up to undertake a full review of the student support provided through the DSA. This is the first time the DSA has been reviewed since it was introduced. The aims of the Review will to:
- consider the current provision provided to students through the DSA;
- identify any limitations with the current provision and support;
- highlight good practice provision provided to disabled students by institutions;
- consider what constitutes 'reasonable adjustment'; and
consider draft guidance on what can and cannot be provided for under the DSA.
A paper providing a summary of the main issues raised by stakeholders during the initial information gathering phase of the Review has been produced.
Having completed their first DSA customer survey the Student Award Agency for Scotland (SAAS) have now published the results from the survey, outlined the main issues raised and stated what they are doing to address these issues. See: Further information about the results and the SAAS response.
A paper outlining what is currently provided to eligible students under DSA; the rules governing this provision; and some of the strengths and limitations for individuals and institutions under the current DSA system which will require further investigation has been produced.
A paper outlining and comparing the current provision of DSA across the four countries of the UK, Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland has been produced.
A paper which provides some clarification about the relationship between institutional support to disabled students through the DDA (anticipatory duties, reasonable adjustment duties and disability equality duty) and the DSA has been produced. The paper, which does not replace any existing guidance regarding the Disability Discrimination Act, also:
- examines the types of support which is currently provided to disabled students by institutions and compares this to the support which is provided through the DSA;
- examine issues which have been raised during the review of DSA with regard to reasonable adjustments and the DSA; and
- provide case studies to highlight examples of where institutions are making linkage between reasonable adjustments and the DSA and the effectiveness of that.
The Review of DSA final report has been published. The report outlines the evidence and discussions which have taken place throughout the Review process and concludes with the Review's recommendations and actions which have received approval from Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning.
Portability of Higher Education Student Support
The overarching aims of this project are to:
- investigate the feasibility of developing a pilot for portable student support for Scottish higher education undergraduate students eligible for maintenance support from Students Awards Agency for Scotland to study in limited countries outwith the UK
- devise, deliver and implement a pilot model of the portable student support scheme in Scotland (subject to an evaluation of the feasibility of such a scheme).
This scheme intends to support those students registered with an institution abroad for the entire duration of their full degree or sub degree (not those registered with UK institutions and are studying abroad for part of their course). It will cover student support in the form of fees, grants and loans. It is expected that we will have a pilot model up and running to support students from academic year 2010/11.