(b) The eligibility criteria for the funding is that students must:

be ordinarily resident in Scotland

be over the age of 16

earn £18,000 or less or be on benefits

not be in receipt of a fee waiver from the learning provider

be studying at 50% or more of a full-time HNC, HND, or

undergraduate degree (SCQF Level 7-10).    

(c) The part-time HE grant will be delivered through a simplified Individual Learning Account (ILA Scotland) model and the grant will be paid directly to the university or college. 

(d) We expect that this new funding will benefit around 20,000 part-time HE students.

http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/dsa_what_we_pay.htm.

In terms of the increase, the upper threshold for the non-medical personal helpers element of the Disabled Students'' Allowance (DSA) will from academic year 2008-09 rise from £12,420 to £20,000. In terms of numbers of students who will stand to benefit, last year there were around 39 students who reached the maximum threshold for non-medical personal help. The number of students who will benefit from the increased threshold in 2008-09 will be dependent on their assessed needs when they apply to SAAS for student support.

The changes to the means test are not intended to generate savings. They are intended to bring about a fairer system of student support for all our students. If any savings were to accrue from these changes, however, this money will be redistributed within the general student support system.

Decided to Pay Graduate Endowment in Full by Cash

Data source: Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) as at 30 April 2008.

Figures have been rounded to the nearest five.

The figures shown in the table are provisional and subject to change as cases are processed. They do not include students who were liable for the graduate endowment as of April 2007 or earlier but have had their liability deferred whilst they undertake postgraduate study. Those who are currently in debt recovery, who have had their debt written off or who have chosen to pay part in cash part by loan are also excluded.

Graduates who choose to pay their graduate endowment in full by cash are not required to give details of their household income therefore it is not possible to provide an income breakdown of the table.

Full details of the changes are set out on the Scottish Government''s website with an accompanying press release, dated 15 February 2008:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Funding-Support-Grants/FFL/PMB/Completed

The Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) has also set out the changes in the administrators'' section and the main student section of their website at www.saas.gov.uk

Details of the changes can also be found in the Notes section of the SAS3 application for support in 2008-09 as well as the SAS4 guide which is issued by SAAS to every student on receipt of their application for support.

In February this year, SAAS wrote to all continuing students, their parents and spouses outlining details of the revised income assessment as well as all colleges, universities, Association of Scotland''s Colleges, Universities Scotland and the National Union of Students.

SAAS also carried out two workshops for colleges and universities earlier this year and have taken part in approximately 90 open days to schools, colleges and universities between October last year to date.

Publicity will continue throughout the rest of this year in the run up to the new academic session in 2008-09. We plan to carry on the dissemination process at (approximately) another 80 events up to the end of September, including the UK National Association of Student Money Advisors event in July.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Education/Funding-Support-Grants/FFL/PMB/Completed.