NUS Scotland have published a report researching the student financial support system.  The Still in the Red report surveyed over 7,400 Scottish further and higher education students exploring the effectiveness and impact of student finances. Headline findings from the report include:

• 61% of students worry frequently or all of the time about finances
• 62% said that not receiving enough money was having a negative impact on their studies
• 50% had been forced to access commercial credit (credit cards and the like) to get by
• 68% were working more than the Cubie-recommended 10 hours per week with 47% of these said that combining work with study was having a negative impact on their studies
• 36% considered dropping out due to financial worries, with 89% of these saying “not having enough financial support” was a key reason for considering this

The report breaks down findings highlighting issues for: further education; higher education; postgraduate students; student parents; part-time students; and mature students.

The report highlights the following student views of FE support:

Strengths

• Students value face‑to‑face advice and local support from college bursary officers
• Students are confident their courses will improve their prospects
• EMA funding provides the poorest young students with a guaranteed sum on a regular basis

Weaknesses

• The discretionary system for college bursaries allows inequalities between
  students
• The possibility of funding being reduced or withdrawn during studies is causing anxiety and stress to students, which is impacting negatively on their studies
• Actual reduction and withdrawal of funding is creating further student hardship
• Requiring high levels of attendance from students as a prerequisite for receipt of funding fails to take into account the range of living situations of today’s students and may disadvantage some of the most vulnerable students
• Differences between FE and HE funding systems may be preventing some students from progressing from one stage to the next

Click here to read the full NUS Scotland press release and download the report

Last updated by Martin Hawksey at April 5, 2011.