In the event of the abolition of the fee contribution it would be essential that the 42m which would be lost was made good to the institutions. The sector is not in a comfortable funding situation and there are many problems associated with the reductions they were having to accept. Where possible, as Dearing proposed, undergraduates, postgraduates, full and part-time students should be treated equally. Scotland is increasingly becoming a knowledge intensive economy. The demand for acceptable education is increasing.
Graduate education offers significant benefits to society.
There is a student funding gap between what students can borrow from government and their costs. Too much part-time work can impede study. Many students qualify for benefits, for example in the case of mature students. Since benefit contributions were removed for students it has had a knock-on effect on their ability to study and hardship has worsened. The so-called Access Funds are actually Hardship Funds.