| A recent study conducted by the Royal Bank of Scotland showed that while 86% of undergraduates in Scotland were set to take a summer job this summer, 79% of those south of the border were doing likewise.
Mr Luke said the trend for Scottish students to seek work not only in summer, but also during term time is growing. He said the higher proportion of Scots students looking for work is possibly indicative of student under-funding. Figures also showed that three quarters of students north of the border were planning to use their earnings to offset term-time living costs.
“My general opinion is that students are still under-funded and I still believe there should be some kind of maintenance grant,” said Mr Luke.
In the top-up fees vote, the Mr Luke abstained at the last sitting because he was given assurances by Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister, that concessions would be made for Scottish students planning to study in England through some form of maintenance grant.
English universities will be able to charge up to £3000 when the new legislation comes into effect in 2006
Mr Luke had been a vocal opponent of the controversial top-up fees bill from its outset, lamenting the increasingly precarious state of student finances. But he was criticised for an apparent about-face when he elected not to vote against the bill.
He said he would now be monitoring the top-up fees bill closely to see how it works out. |
