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Scottish Government to Increase Support Packages for Undergraduate Students

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The financial support available to undergraduate students will rise by £900 from the start of the 2023-24 academic year.

The increase will be available to students already at college and university and for new students who are set to begin their course this Autumn.

Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “This rise in support will help to alleviate the financial pressures facing many students as we grapple with the cost-of-living crisis.

“The maximum financial support package available to the most vulnerable students and those from the lowest household incomes in Higher Education will rise to £9,000. This is the next step in delivering our commitment to provide a total package of student support equivalent to the living wage.

“Increasing the Care Experienced Bursary will help more of Scotland’s Care Experience community to access further and higher education and fulfil their potential.”

Estranged students in higher education and other undergraduate learners with the lowest household income will see their maximum support package increase from £8,100 to £9,000 per year.

The annual non-repayable Care Experienced Bursary for eligible higher education students will also increase to £9,000, with the £900 increase also applied to the maximum bursary rate available to care experienced students in further education.

Students in need of immediate financial support for the 2022-23 academic year are still able to apply to their college or university for assistance through their Discretionary Funds.

The uplift will be applicable to higher education students receiving SAAS funding, including Scottish domiciled students studying elsewhere in the UK. The rise in financial support for further education students will only apply to those studying in Scotland.

Further details for support rates available to students in the 2023-24 academic year can be found at https://www.saas.gov.uk/

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