Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley MSP Elena Whitham hopes a new strategy to support students can benefit people in Ayrshire.

From the start of the 2024-25 academic year, students applying for funding support while studying will have the option to spread this support out over 12 months.

This mean that students who chose this option will now receive payments across the summer months.

Students will see a £2,400 increase to the annual support package, which will take the undergraduate funding package to £11,400 every year.

SNP MSP, Elena Whitham hopes this boost can soften the burden for people in Ayrshire.

MSP for Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, Elena Whitham.MSP for Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley, Elena Whitham. (Image: NQ Archive)

The Carrick, Cumnock, and Doon Valley representative said: “The summer months can be very challenging for students as they try to pay household bills without receiving funding – this is why the SNP Government has taken action to support students in Ayrshire.

“In addition to increasing available support by £2,400, taking it to £11,400 per year, students can now also spread those payments across 12 months instead of the current 9.

“Thanks to free tuition and enhanced support measures Scotland has the lowest levels of student debt in the UK and the SNP Government will continue to take every action to enable more people into further education.

“We have record numbers of students applying for university – and it is funding support measures delivered by the SNP Government like this that will continue to break down barriers to further education.”