Part-time learners across Scotland are to be given extra money to support their studies amid fears many are being put off by the cost of courses.

Part-time learners across Scotland are to be given extra money to support their studies amid fears many are being put off by the cost of courses.

The Open University has decided to provide additional financial incentives for those wishing to study pending the results of a Scottish Executive review of funding arrangements for part-time students.

Under the new scheme, which will run for at least a year, students with a household income of between £15,700 and £30,000 will be given up to £200.

The Open University also intends to give up to £100 to anyone who wants to study one of a number of priority subjects including maths, science, computing and technology, regardless of their income.

The money is in addition to existing schemes where students with incomes of less than £15,700 are entitled to a full fee waiver. Learners can also access support through Individual Learning Accounts.

The Open University made the move after internal research showed that Scottish families in the lower income brackets who were not eligible for a fee waiver were being put off studying.

In addition, there is evidence to suggest that raising levels of support for part-time students in England and Wales has already had a positive impact on student numbers.

It also addresses concerns that students in Scotland are being put off part-time courses because of the financial discrimination of still having to pay tuition fees.

In 2000, the executive abolished upfront tuition fees in Scotland for full-time students and replaced the charge with the graduate endowment - which has itself now been scrapped. However, Scotland's 113,000 part-time students still have to pay fees of up to £1200 for the equivalent of one year's full-time study.

Peter Syme, the Open University's Scottish director, said: "Our research shows clearly there is no shortage of motivated people in Scotland keen to improve their skills and their prospects by getting back to learning, but many of them are prevented from achieving their potential by the cost involved.

"While the government's fee waiver and Individual Learning Account schemes are a real help for those in the very lowest income bands, research confirms that finance is a significant barrier for people at other income levels."

Mr Syme said the government was aware of the need to improve the support available to part-time learners and that a review was under way which may offer an improved support package in 2008-09.

"In the meantime, it is essential to Scotland's economic prosperity that we continue to encourage and support people to develop their skills through part-time learning which is why we are making this additional support available from our own resources," he added.

An executive spokeswoman said ministers recognised that part-time study had an important role in helping people to develop skills, but that there were genuine challenges for those not able to work part-time to support their studies.

"The review of part-time funding has now been completed. As part of the spending review the government will consider whether it is possible to increase the support for part-time students," she said.

The Open University is Scotland's largest provider of part-time higher education, with 14,000 students.