The SNP has been blasted for being slow to help Ukrainian students who have fled from the war financially while they study in Scotland.

Hundreds of college-aged students who were forced to flee their homes are still studying remotely at Ukrainian universities to complete their studies.

But despite calls from the Scottish Lib Dems, the Scottish Government has so far been too slow in making them eligible for financial support that students in Scotland get.

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This was discussed at Holyrood's Education, Children and Young People Committee on June 8 who found that they were being treated as students who are studying via distance learning, making them ineligible for the support.

This means they also cannot get support from any UK funding body and also unable to get cash from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Three welcome hubs have been set up in Scotland to welcome Ukrainian refugees
Refugees fleeing the violence in Ukraine

Scottish Lib Dems education spokesperson Willie Rennie wrote to the Scottish Government on July 29 to ask them what progress had been made on the issue and to ask them to support the small number of students affected.

However, in response minister for higher and further education Jamie Hepburn said: “Officials from the Higher Education and Science Division and the Student Awards Agency Scotland are also continuing dialogue with the DWP and the UK Government Department for Education to consider what opportunities are available to provide support to these students.”

Mr Rennie still feels like not enough is being done to support the students who have already had to live through the trauma of fleeing their homes.

He said: “This is an issue affecting a small number of talented and dedicated students who are still completing degrees at Ukrainian institutions but find themselves ineligible for financial support.

“The Scottish Government has spent months faffing about rather than just adjusting the eligibility. This shouldn’t take an army of civil servants.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie
Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP Willie Rennie

“All these students want is to complete their degrees and start their professional careers. Scotland will be well placed to benefit from the talents of those who are making a home on our shores, we shouldn’t begrudge them a helping hand in completing their studies.

“None of them asked to be in this situation but Putin’s war has thrown up an exceptional set of circumstances and that requires an exceptional solution."

Mr Hepburn's letter read: "I have been clear that distance learning students in Scotland are considered part-time for student finance purposes and are generally more likely to be considered eligible for support through the benefits system.

"The classification of the Ukrainian distance learning students as full-time by the DWP has resulted in them being unable to access Universal Credit.

"I have further written to the UK Government Minister for Welfare Delivery to ensure that individual students circumstances are taken into account and that support is provided to those students most in need.

Jamie Hepburn
Scotland's Higher Education minister Jamie Hepburn

"Officials from the Higher Education and Science Division and the Student Awards Agency Scotland are also continuing dialogue with the DWP and the UK Government Department for Education to consider what opportunities are available to provide support to these students.

"All parties are aware of the need to resolve this issue as soon as is practically possible and we are working towards this goal."

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