Under consideration PE2278: Abolish Student Debt and Replace SAAS Maintenance Loans with Living Cost Grants
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to completely abolish the student loan system and establish non-repayable maintenance grants pegged the National Living Wage. Using devolved powers over higher education and student support under the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 and the Scotland Act 1998, the Government must replace all Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) living-cost loans with direct state grants, eliminate humiliating household means-testing for essential support, and guarantee a debt-free education for all Scottish students.
Background information
Scotland's free tuition claim is a myth. While tuition is covered, higher education has become a predatory debt engine. SAAS forces working-class students to borrow up to £10,400 annually just to survive, while maximum non-repayable bursaries are capped at a derisory £2,000 under humiliating means-testing. Extortionate private rents and living costs inflict severe financial distress and mental trauma on young adults. Forcing the next generation to mortgage their futures for a degree while local councils and landlords exploit them is a catastrophic systemic failure. Higher education finance is 100% devolved.
I demand the Government immediately:
1. Abolish the SAAS loan framework, converting all living-cost support into non-repayable grants.
2. End parent means-testing; aid must be an unconditional individual right.
3. Raise maintenance grants to match the full National Living Wage, with dedicated accommodation cost coverage.
Stop exploiting youth; secure a debt-free future now.
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