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.

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Eligibility

Laptop Grant 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

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

  • home postcode in an SIMD Quintile 1 or Quintile 2 area
  • home postcode in an rUK POLAR4 Quintile 1 area
  • care-experienced student,
  • in receipt of a Strathclyde STAR Scholarship
  • caring responsibilities
  • estranged student
  • Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman or Boater (GTRSB) Student.
  • asylum seeker
  • in receipt of a Postgraduate Taught bursary.
  • can demonstrate an exceptional need for a device to support your learning.

For those students who are eligible for the above and who are unable to access a reliable WiFi or broadband connection to support your learning from your home or student accommodation, you can be considered for a grant of £100 to support you in purchasing data/Wi-Fi if you can demonstrate exception need. Students must have received a bursary element to any funding award to be eligible.

If you are a student but also a staff member you are eligible to apply for this scheme.

Subject eligibility

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

Levels eligibility

Undergraduate, Postgraduate Taught

Study modes eligibility

Full Time

Fee Status

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

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. If the device is broken and can’t be repaired, and the problem is not covered by the warranty, the University will provide you with another device up to a maximum of three devices over your degree.

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

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

I don’t meet any of the personal criteria but still need access to a laptop – can I apply because of my individual circumstances?

We will also consider those who have exceptional need. Please explain these circumstances in your application.

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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.

 

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Contact us

Any queries please contact: remote-learning-assistance@strath.ac.uk