Edinburgh’s student associations are running campaigns in conjunction with NUS-Scotland to put pressure on the government to improve student funding.

On Thursday 22 and Friday 23 November, Heriot-Watt Union Student Association (HWUSA) were the first to launch their Christmas-themed final demand campaign.

Liam Burns, President of HWUSA said: “Santa has chosen the right time to visit Heriot-Watt students. The reality is that many are increasingly becoming part-time students and full-time workers, even if they signed up to a full time course!”

After housing costs, students have just £8.05 a week of state student support to live on, falling £2,500 below the poverty line. Consequently many students have to find employment in order to remain in higher education.

James Hodgson, a second year studying Microbiology at Heriot-Watt, told The Journal: “We have to make our voice heard because many students are already working 15 hours a week on top of a degree just so that we can afford to educate ourselves.

“Many students only voted SNP because of their pledge to scrap student debt.”

The campaign involved a Santa’s grotto where goody bags containing soup and information about Final Demand were given out to students whose financial anxieties were increased after the government’s retraction of their manifesto promise to "dump the debt."

400 students were surveyed on the levels of student debt and the hardship they endure.

Edinburgh University Students Association (EUSA) will hold their Final Demand campaign on Thursday 6 November outside the main Library.

This data will be collated by NUS-Scotland and presented to the Scottish Government. At the same time campaign postcards are being sent to MSPs to highlight the financial difficulties students are in.

James Alexander, President of NUS-Scotland told The Journal: “Final Demand is NUS Scotland’s student funding campaign for this year.”

Mr Alexander said the Santa’s grotto theme is designed to: “demonstrate that while everywhere else, people are thinking about Christmas, Scotland’s students are worried about where their next meal is going to come from.”

The campaign is intended to pressure the Government into addressing four key areas: to improve access for all; drop the debt; cut the costs of education; and provide better bursaries.

The importance of the Final Demand Campaign in compelling the government to deal with issues of student hardship was highlighted after the SNP triggered further confusion over the Graduate Endowment fee.

It is feared that the Bill for the abolition of the Graduate Endowment Fee will not be passed by the Scottish Parliament in time to take effect for 2007 graduates.

On Friday 23 November the Student Award Agency of Scotland (SASS) sent letters to graduates demanding that they inform them within seven days as to how they intend to repay their £2000 Graduate Endowment fee.

Fiona Hyslop, Scottish Education Secretary stated after the election that the graduate endowment fee would be scrapped with immediate effect. However the SAAS letters indicate that graduates could still be liable for repayment.

However, a government spokesperson said: “The letter is clear - it says the Bill to abolish the fee is currently going through Parliament and that no money should be sent now. It advises graduates that SAAS will write to them again to advise of the outcome.

“Obviously abolishing the fee will depend on support of other parties in Parliament. SAAS felt it best to wait until the Bill was introduced to write to graduates so they could give a realistic assessment of the timing of the Bill process.

“It is absolutely right that we avoid unnecessary confusion by letting our graduates know exactly what the position is.”

The controversy comes at a time when universities and the government are discussing future funding options.

Students across Scotland are invited on Wednesday 5 December to a EUSA organised event at the Scottish Parliament buildings to discuss their financial concerns with MSPs.

Alex Salmond will speak at the Playfriar Library, Old College, University of Edinburghon on Wednesday 12 December 2007. The event—already sold out—will discuss Scotland in relation to the European Union.