Digital Inclusion Programme

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Key facts

  • Number of scholarships: Variable
  • Value: Equipment grant
  • Opens: 16 August 2024
  • Deadline: 30 June 2025
  • Helps with: Equipment and study costs
  • Duration: Provides laptop grant for the duration of studies

Summary

The University of Strathclyde Digital Inclusion Programme is a technology grant scheme for students who reside in the UK and do not have access to an appropriate PC or Laptop to support their learning.

Eligibility

Laptop Loan Scheme

The University has laptops available to provide to undergraduate and postgraduate students who do not have access to an appropriate PC or laptop to support their learning, provided the students meet the relevant criteria.

These laptops have been funded through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), so students must meet residence conditions, plus further eligibility criteria as per undernoted.  Laptops are managed by the University who retain Admin rights and come with software pre-installed, via Company Portal or accessible via the University’s Windows Virtual Desktop (WVD).

Residence conditions

Students must meet the residence requirements for SAAS, Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales or Student Finance Northern Ireland and must supply a copy of their award notice to be considered.

Further eligibility criteria

Undergraduate students

If you meet the above conditions of residence, then you can apply for a laptop loan if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

Students must also have accessed their maximum student loan entitlement and received a bursary element to their award.

Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) students

If you meet the above conditions of residence, then you can apply for a laptop loan if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

PGDE Students must have accessed their maximum student loan entitlement and received a bursary element to their award.

Postgraduate taught students

If you meet the above conditions of residence, then you can apply for a laptop loan if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

Postgraduate taught students must have also accessed their full tuition fee loan or provide evidence as to why they have not accessed any loan element.

For those students who are eligible for the above and who are unable to access a reliable Wi-Fi or broadband connection to support your learning from your home or student accommodation, you can be considered for a grant of £200 for the academic year to support you in purchasing data/Wi-Fi if you can demonstrate exceptional need.

Subject eligibility

Accounting & finance, Aeronautical engineering, Architecture, Biochemistry, Biology & biological sciences, Biomedical engineering, Biomedical science, Business, Chemical engineering, Chemistry, Civil & environmental engineering, Civil engineering, Computer science, Data analytics, Design manufacture & engineering management, Economics, Education, Electronic & electrical engineering, Engineering, English, Entrepreneurship, Environmental engineering, Forensic science, Health, History, Hospitality & tourism, Human resource management, Immunology, International relations, Journalism, Languages, Law, Management, Management science, Marketing, Mathematics & statistics, Mechanical & aerospace engineering, Mechanical engineering, Microbiology, Naval architecture, Naval architecture ocean & marine engineering, Ocean engineering, Pharmacology, Pharmacy & biomedical sciences, Physics, Politics, Product design, Prosthetics & orthotics, Psychology, Renewable energy, Science, Social policy, Social work, Software engineering, Speech & language therapy, Sports engineering, Teaching

Levels eligibility

Postgraduate Taught, Undergraduate

Study modes eligibility

Full Time

Fee Status

England or N. Ireland or Rep. Ireland or Wales, Home (Scottish)

Student type

Current student

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Further information

FAQs

Will I get help?

On the application form we ask you to briefly explain why you need a laptop and/or wifi device. To provide you with a device we need to know that:

  • (for laptops) You don’t already have an appropriate laptop available that only you use regularly
  • (for laptops) You’re not able to get help from another source to buy or borrow an appropriate laptop. For example, if the Disability and Wellbeing Service is supporting you to source a laptop through Disabled Students’ Allowance we would expect you to do that instead of applying to this scheme.

What can I get?

Students who meet the criteria will be offered:

  1. A Hewlett Packard (HP) laptop (or equivalent) that meets at least the minimum specifications recommended by Information Services.

The laptop will come with a basic package of University licensed software.  The laptop will remain the property of the University until you finish your course.

I have a PC at home but I share it with other members of the household – can I still apply?

Yes – we expect students to be able to access a PC or laptop as often as they need it. The same applies if you borrow a parent’s laptop or computer to do your work.

I have a computer but it’s not much good – can I still apply?

Yes. If it doesn’t meet the University recommended specification, or if it is broken down/keeps breaking down please tell us on your form.

What if the laptop needs a repair?

The laptop will come with a 3-year warranty from HP and will also carry software remotely installed by our Information Services Directorate. You’ll be able to get support from HP and the University.   The University will not be responsible for replacing laptops that are lost, stolen or damaged beyond warranty coverage. The warranty does not provide cover against loss, theft or accidental damage, for example a cracked LCD screen, damaged casing or accidental spillage. 

I’m an international student – why can’t I apply?

The funding we receive for this scheme has residence requirements that we must follow.

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How to apply

Complete the application form available here.

There will be further opportunities to apply later in the academic year.