Petition · PE01650 · Session 5
Student Awards Agency for Scotland's post-graduate eligibility criteria
Signatures
0
Comments
4
Considered
2 meetings
What it asks
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to widen the Student Awards Agency for Scotland’s (SAAS) eligibility criteria to include post-graduate degree funding for individuals who have studied an undergraduate degree in Scotland but are ordinarily resident in the UK.
What the petitioner did first
I met with my local MSP Gordon MacDonald on 31st March 2017 to seek support on this issue.
I have been in contact with both Student Finance England (SFE) and SAAS to see what funding is available. SFE cannot give post-graduate loans because certain post-graduate courses (such as the Diploma in Legal Practice) are not covered as a masters.
After speaking with SAAS they told me I was not ordinarily resident and it was only for educational purposes. I believe this is wrong seeing as though I decided to study Scottish Law over English Law, which is a devolved power in certain areas. I have been advised that I should take a year out and then I may be able to receive some funding. I feel this is an extreme breach of equal opportunities and our accessibility to the system.
Since then, I have been in contact with several Scottish universities seeking support, as well as the Law Society of Scotland. Talks are currently underway between the Law Society and Strathclyde University Funding with the policy manager at SAAS.
I have been in contact with both Student Finance England (SFE) and SAAS to see what funding is available. SFE cannot give post-graduate loans because certain post-graduate courses (such as the Diploma in Legal Practice) are not covered as a masters.
After speaking with SAAS they told me I was not ordinarily resident and it was only for educational purposes. I believe this is wrong seeing as though I decided to study Scottish Law over English Law, which is a devolved power in certain areas. I have been advised that I should take a year out and then I may be able to receive some funding. I feel this is an extreme breach of equal opportunities and our accessibility to the system.
Since then, I have been in contact with several Scottish universities seeking support, as well as the Law Society of Scotland. Talks are currently underway between the Law Society and Strathclyde University Funding with the policy manager at SAAS.
Where it was considered
Official Report-
15 Jun 20171 mention
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9 Nov 20171 mention
Signatures by country
124 online signaturesComments
4 comments, oldest first-
Emma Miller 3 Apr 2017I am half Scottish, half English. I was born in Scotland but was ordinarily resident in England prior to my degree in Edinburgh. Neither Student Awards Association for Scotland, nor Student Finance England will finance my Diploma in Legal Practice. Should I not be able to raise the £7000 with additional living costs my degree in Scots Law will be rendered useless in the pursuit of what it was intended. I fully intend to remain in Scotland and to contribute to society, but may have to reconsider this. I feel as though I am being punished for living in England prior to my degree.
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Nicole wheatley 8 Apr 2017This will only discourage English students from wanting to study the Scottish LLB and puts them at an unfair disadvantage.
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N J Cooke 9 Apr 2017End this racist discrimination against English students.
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Kenneth Archbold 10 Apr 2017Im sure the SNP will continue to produce excuses for not allowing this to happen but we have to try to end this discrimination.