A £5 MILLION package of emergency financial support is being put in

place to help students facing hardship as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Extra cash will be available to any university and college students now struggling as a result of Covid-19, including those attending private institutions.

The £5m includes an additional £2.2m for Scotland’s Higher Education Discretionary Fund specifically to address Covid-19-related hardships, which will be available to colleges and universities immediately.

University and college students will be able to apply for any emergency discretionary payments directly to their own institutions.

Education Minister Richard Lochhead said: “We are ensuring students studying in Scotland should have access to emergency support.”