University applications 'steady'

Jan 30 2012

The SNP administration's stance on tuition fees has been praised by student leaders after figures showed the number of people applying to study at Scottish universities "held steady" this year.

Statistics published by Ucas show the total number of university applications from Scotland fell by 1.5%, the smallest drop across the UK.

The total number of applications from students to study in Scotland rose by 0.2%, compared with a slump of almost 9% in applicants to English universities. Applications to Scottish universities from international students are up by more than a quarter.

Tuition fees for English universities are due to triple to a maximum of £9,000 this autumn. However, the SNP administration was elected on a pledge to maintain free university education for Scotland-based students.

NUS Scotland president Robin Parker said: "Today's Ucas figures are a ringing endorsement of the Scottish Government's correct decision to keep Scotland free of tuition fees and remove any price tag for studying. Scottish applications have held up well, particularly when compared to elsewhere in the UK."

The figures show that the number of university applicants from all parts of the UK has fallen. In England the number applying to university dropped by 9.9%, whereas in Scotland the fall was by 1.5%. The total UK figure was down by 8.7% to 462,507 applications, compared with 506,388 at this point last year.

The number of Scottish students applying to study in Scotland has fallen from 38,986 last year to 38,559 in 2012, a drop of 1.1% or 427 applications. The total number of applications to Scottish institutions has risen by 0.2% to 96,364 this year.

Ucas said the number of non-EU applicants to Scottish universities rose almost 25% this year, with applications from the EU up 6%.

Mr Parker welcomed the Scottish figures but criticised the tuition fees faced by students south of the border.

He said: "We always said £9,000 fees would price out students, particularly the poorest, from going to university. These statistics seem to prove that. Overall, applications to study in Scotland are close to steady which is great news."