ILA 500 postgraduate support extended

The ILA500 scheme will be available for postgraduate level courses for another year. During the past academic year, ILA500 has provided partial fees support of £500 to over 400 part-time students on low incomes or who are on benefits.

Reacting to the current economic climate and the higher than usual level of graduates affected by redundancy, the Scottish Government has decided to extend the scheme  to cover the academic year running 2010 - 2011.

Keith Brown, Minister for Skills and Lifelong Learning, said:

"More than 70 per cent of Scottish taught post-graduate students study part-time – a hugely important part of our current postgraduate provision.

"We introduced the £500 grant for part-time postgraduate students for the last academic year. It has proved successful, providing real help to existing graduates who are working, facing redundancy or unemployed.

"I am delighted that we are continuing this support and are able to contribute to the difficult task of widening participation in higher education."

Changes made last year also opened up the level of qualifications available. Please see the ILA website for further details of which courses are eligible for ILA500 and whether this funding could be used by your learners.