WIREDGOV

Scotland’s global reputation for excellence in Higher Education has been underlined by new figures published yesterday.

Figures released by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) indicate a strong Scottish performance in both qualifications and access, including:

• The number of Higher Education qualifiers in 2012/2013 increased by 2.9 per cent from the previous year to a record 95,580
• The number of entrants to first degree study increased by 4 per cent to 46,870
• The number of Scots-domiciled entrants to Higher Education increased by 310 to 98,460
• Scotland was the only country in the UK to see an increase in entrants to Higher Education Institutions with entrants to English institutions down 16 per cent
• The number of entrants from the most deprived areas increased to 15.8 per cent, a record high.

Minister for Learning Alasdair Allan said:

“Today’s figures bring a range of promising news for Scottish Higher Education. A record number of qualifiers provides further evidence of excellence at Scottish institutions, enhancing our global reputation still further. These figures also follow the confirmation this week that Scotland is the only country in the UK to have increased its funding for Higher Education in the last year, with investment now exceeding £1 billion.

“A record level of entrants from the most deprived areas of Scotland also reflects well on our efforts to widen access, and is something I expect to see more of as we reap the benefits of the Post 16 Education (Scotland) Act.

“What we now have is a very bright picture for the future. New entrants have increased and the latest UCAS figures show that the number Scots-domiciled applicants are up, demonstrating resilience in the wake of sizeable tuition fees elsewhere.

“In an independent Scotland our priority will remain the protection of places for Scots-domiciled students and ensuring that access to education continues to be based on ability to learn rather than the ability to pay. Our current approach to tuition fees will therefore remain in place.”