The Scottish Government has announced that from the start of the 2023/24 academic year financial support, including the care experienced bursary, will increase by £900. 

The annual bursary will now be £9000 per year, spread out over 9 or 12 months depending on the choice of the recipient and will be available to Scottish care experienced students studying higher education in the UK, administered via and the SAAS, and to further education students in Scotland only.

Students in need of immediate financial support for the 2022-23 academic year are still able to apply to their college or university for assistance through their Discretionary Funds.

Higher and Further Education Minister Jamie Hepburn said:

“This rise in support will help to alleviate the financial pressures facing many students as we grapple with the cost-of-living crisis.

“The maximum financial support package available to the most vulnerable students and those from the lowest household incomes in Higher Education will rise to £9,000. This is the next step in delivering our commitment to provide a total package of student support equivalent to the living wage.

“Increasing the Care Experienced Bursary will help more of Scotland’s Care Experience community to access further and higher education and fulfil their potential.”

Staf CEO Jo Derrick said 

"We are delighted that the care experienced bursary has been increased, acknowledging the very difficult financial situation students can find themselves in and we are keen to encourage the holistic support that must go hand in glove with this financial development. Next steps is to secure financial supports  for care experienced students wishing to continue their studies past the undergraduate level. We are hearing from our members and directly from young people that this lack of support is causing significant barriers to them achieving their ambitions and we call on the Government to consider a bursary for those wishing to pursue masters or PHDs."

For more information about the Care Experienced Bursary please check out the Hub For Success Guides for Further and Higher Education.