A record number of Scottish students have been accepted into Scottish universities for the coming academic year.
News Editor
According to UCAS figures released in August, 26, 590 Scottish students earned places at universities in Scotland, which is an increase of 4% from the previous year.
The overall number of Scottish students in higher education across the UK has also risen by 4%, giving a total of 27, 910. Meanwhile, the number of students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland studying in Scotland has also increased by 3% to 4, 850.
There has also been a 10% increase in students from the EU coming to study in Scotland, with 4,070 acceptances this year.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning Michael Russell stated: “I am very pleased to see that the record number of acceptances for Scots students entering higher education has been maintained at this latest next stage of the process, demonstrating real strength and resilience in Scottish education.”
He went on to comment: “The Scottish Government is committed to wider access to higher education based on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay, backed up with increased university places for Scottish domiciled students from less well-off backgrounds.
“Today’s figures also show that Scotland remains an attractive place to study, having more universities in the world’s top 200 per head of population than any other country, apart from Switzerland.”
A spokesman for the University of Glasgow told the Glasgow Guardian that around 60% of its underground intake this September are students domiciled in Scotland, and that this figure has been consistent for the last three to four years.
He added: “There are many reasons why it is important Scottish students have the chance to study in Scotland. Primarily it provides students with a free education at world class universities where they live. Providing opportunities for Scottish students to study in Scotland means the country can educate its citizens to a high level and retain talent which has far reaching economics benefits.”
