How many students attending university or further education college (a) applied for and (b) received a student loan in each of the past fiv…

Comprehensive figures in the form requested on the total numbers applying for a student loan, either through the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) or direct to the Student Loans Company (SLC), could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Students apply for support to the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), which assesses whether applicants are eligible for a student loan and the maximum amount of loan to which they would be entitled, based on the information provided in the application. This information is then sent to the Student Loans Company (SLC).Where a student does not apply for a loan as part of their original application for support, SAAS nevertheless assesses entitlement and provides information on the amount the student would be entitled to borrow. The student may then apply for a loan later in the academic year, by applying directly to SLC, without requiring to inform SAAS.The figures can be provided for the number of students assessed by SAAS as eligible for a loan. These will be higher than the number of students who applied for a loan.Academic Year | Number of Students Assessed by SAAS as Eligible for Loan | Number of Loans Paid | Amount of Loans Paid | Average of Loans Paid
1996-97 | 110,587 | N/A | N/A | N/A
1997-98 | 115,143 | N/A | N/A | N/A
1998-99 | 107,542 | 54,746 | 86,483,261 | 1,579.72
1999-2000 | 100,972 | 84,515 | 200,292,385 | 2,369.90
2000-01 | 107,246 | 88,786 | 210,067,180 | 2,365.99
These figures include loans paid under the "mortgage-style" scheme and the income contingent loan scheme. (Source: Student Loans Company). Separate data on Scot