AN ANONYMOUS poll conducted by The Student indicates that over half of University of Edinburgh students surveyed are no worse off financially than they were at this point at last year.

Unfortunately, 65 per cent of those polled also said that they worried about money, with several respondents blaming a lack of adequate support from the Scottish government’s financial assistance body, the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS).

One University of Edinburgh student even said that they were so short of money they may not be able to return home for Christmas, explaining, “since SAAS removed the travel refunds this year I now have no idea how I will get home to the northern isles; there are discounts available to islanders but it still adds up to more than I can afford to get home and back.

“The three years previous to this, they have completely messed it up every time … SAAS are one of the most inept government bodies I’ve ever come across.”

62 per cent of students surveyed said they worked during the holidays to keep themselves afloat during term time, with 85 per cent receiving financial support from their parents.

Questions were also raised over the discrepancy in financial support offered by English and Scottish funding bodies, with one respondent claiming that, “in terms of student support, there can be no doubt that English students receive a better deal than their Scottish counterparts. Whilst they may have to eventually pay back what they receive, this will only apply when they are earning enough to afford to pay back the loans.

“Every English student gets £3,500 support, regardless of parental income. Scottish students, on the other hand, can receive as little as £900 a year.

“It’s high time the SNP put aside the rhetoric and stopped claiming they’ve made higher education free for all in Scotland ... higher education in Scotland is funded by an additional tax on many hard-working families at a time when they can least afford it.”