Better Funding For Scottish Postgrads

Postgraduate students should be given better financial support.

That's according to the Scottish Government in a report that's been welcomed by union bosses in Scotland.

It can cost around £7000 to study a postgrad at many unis including St Andrews. Unlike undergraduate courses, they are not free for Scottish students.

The NUS in Scotland say it'll widen access to further education.

Vonnie Sandlan, NUS Scotland president, said: "This is a huge achievement for NUS Scotland and students, and our campaigning for improved and fairer support for students to access postgraduate degrees. 

"As we have long been arguing for, the introduction of greater fee and living cost support for postgraduates will go a long way to opening up postgraduate education to more students, and ensuring they can reach their full potential.
 
"However, as the report notes, we remain concerned that, without proper regulation of fees we run the risk of seeing tuition fee inflation, with universities simply pushing prices up above and beyond the level of fee support available in response to the increased support available. 

"Despite all the positives on access and funding the report provides, the system runs the risk of failing to achieve its full ambitions if the fees universities charge don’t match the support available.
 
"Fundamentally, this comes down to an issue of fairness. We hope the government welcomes the recommendations made on fee and living cost entitlement, which ensures that access to education is based on your ability to learn, not your ability to pay. 

"We look forward to working with politicians over the coming months to ensure these recommendations are implemented, that more students are able to realise the benefits of it, and continuing the campaign to ensuring students aren’t hit with unnecessary and unaffordable tuition fee increases."