NUS Scotland has called for “bold and ambitious” reform of financial help available to students, as figures show increasing levels of student debt north of the border.

Student Loans Company statistics show that a total of £548.3 million was lent to Scottish university students in 2015-16, a rise of 6 per cent from 2014-15.

The average debt of students who graduated in 2015 and entered loan repayment in 2016 was £10,500, up from £9,410 the previous year, although average debt remains lower than in other parts of Britain as most Scottish students do not pay tuition fees in their home country.

The data also revealed that the average amount owed to the company by students from England was £24,640, Welsh students £16,120 and Northern Irish students £19,720.

However, these figures do not include other debts, such as credit card balances and overdrafts.

The student union confederation warned that these figures did not yet include the full cohort of Scottish students who entered higher education under 2013 reforms, which brought in higher loans, so debt levels are likely to increase to reflect these changes.

President Vonnie Sandlan said: “NUS Scotland worked incredibly hard to see increased student support and fully supported previous reforms that saw the amount of support students could access markedly increase, but it can’t be escaped that this came through higher loans, rather than grants.

“While increases would have been preferable in grants, and no increases at all would have been unacceptable, it’s clear we need to look again at the support we provide for students, particularly our poorest and most in need.”