NUS study shows Scottish college funds are in crisis

Local colleges are buckling under the pressure of the economic downturn according to a recent study carried out by the National Union Students (NUS).

NUS Scotland found that current economic conditions, combined with increased admissions and more claims for student support are forcing colleges to turn away hopeful applicants.

“We cannot have a situation where support for people at college is cut, or where the doors are shut to new students at colleges across the country,” said Liam Burns, president of NUS Scotland.

Colleges are also being forced to use money, previously ring fenced for special circumstances to support the wider student body.
 
A spokesperson for Jewel and Esk College in Edinburgh supported the study’s findings saying that the college has the same number of places but that there has been a noticeable increase in the number of applicants this year

As a result the college has 43 students on the waiting list and no money left in hardship funds.
 
This increase has led to many applicants having to be turned away as the colleges are left with no choice, and no extra money to expand course number or size.

Mr Burns said: “It is clear that this is a system that is struggling without enough funding to cope with the increased demand we’ve seen this year. This can only be bad news for students, and worse still for those looking to become students over the coming months.

Many colleges are also having to use the money from student childcare and hardships funds to pay general support to their students. 

There are hopes for additional funding by the Scottish government to help the colleges suffering the most following the sudden influx of students.

There are still fears that many colleges will have no choice but to close their doors and turn away new students ahead of the usual January intake.

The Scottish Funding Council met on Friday 20 November to try and resolve the issues.