Scottish government praised as university applicants hold steady
Copyright remains a thorny issue. Picture: Jane Barlow
STUDENT leaders have praised the Scottish Government’s stance on tuition fees after new figures showed the number of people applying to Scottish universities “held steady”.
Ucas figures released today show the number of university applications from Scotland fell 1.5 per cent.
That is the smallest drop in 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.
Robin Parker, president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, 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: “With applications in England showing a drop of almost 10%, it’s clear £9,000 fees are putting huge numbers of students off, and cutting off opportunities for people to study, re-skill and get the education that gets them a job.
“This is yet another day when the Liberal Democrat MPs that voted for £9,000 fees in England should hang their heads in shame. Their decision to betray students, by trebling fees to £9,000 when they pledged to abolish them, has not only harmed students in England, it’s also led to a 16% drop in Scottish students applying to study in England too.
“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.”
In November, MSPs rubber-stamped the Scottish Government’s decision to let universities north of the border raise fees for students from the rest of the UK. Scottish ministers said the move was the “least bad option” available to them.
Today’s statistics show the number of English students applying to study in Scotland is down 5.6% this year. Scottish applications to study in England dropped in number by 16.4%.
Mr Parker added: “It’s a different story for students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland applying to come to Scotland to study.
“Applications are significantly down and it seems clear that some universities in Scotland have made a huge mistake in overpricing themselves, missing out on the opportunity to attract talented students to Scotland.”
Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “Today’s figures will be welcome reading for Scotland’s education sector and the resilience shown by applications to Scotland compared to the rest of the UK are a vindication of the approach the Scottish Government has taken on student fees and funding the sector.
“The full picture around acceptance figures will emerge later this year but high levels of applications from abroad reflect the excellent reputation Scottish universities enjoy abroad.”
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, added: “What’s really interesting from today’s figures is that whilst the overall number of English applicants is down, Scotland’s share of those applicants has actually held steady and is the same as last year.
“Universities in England have seen a sharper drop in English applicants than Scottish universities. We’re pleased that students across the UK and overseas continue to recognise the high quality of education on offer in Scotland.”
However, the Scottish Conservatives Education Spokesperson, Liz Smith MSP said:
“These figures lay bare the true extent of the inherent inequalities of the SNP’s policy on fees. A huge increase in students from the European Union has seen a coinciding fall in the number of students applying from the rest of the UK.
“I sympathise with those students from the rest of the UK, many of whom feel that they are being financially penalised, because they are being asked to pay annual fees of up to £9,000 to subsidise students from other countries.
“The Scottish Government’s plans are ill-thought out and a calculated measure. They have done little to address the long-term funding pressures faced by the higher education sector in Scotland while also discouraging students from studying in Scotland.”
The University and College Union Scotland seized on the figures showing a 5.6% drop in the number of English students applying to Scottish universities and the 16.4% drop in the number of people in Scotland applying to English universities.
UCU Scotland president Gordon Watson said: “These figures show the folly of the new fees regime and of allowing Scottish universities a free hand to hike up fees for students from the rest of the UK.
“While we are pleased that education is free for Scottish-domiciled students, we remain very concerned at the introduction of a market for other UK students.
“Universities should be ensuring education provision not maximising profit.
“While Scotland has seen a far smaller drop in university applications compared to the rest of the UK, higher fees south of the border appear to be forcing many students here to study locally instead of choosing courses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that may be better suited to them.”
Scottish Conservatives’ education spokeswoman Liz Smith said: “These figures lay bare the true extent of the inherent inequalities of the SNP’s policy on fees. A huge increase in students from the European Union has seen a coinciding fall in the number of students applying from the rest of the UK.
“At a time when budgets are tight, the Scottish Government is duty bound to explain to taxpayers why they are being asked to foot the bill for the tuition fees of foreign nationals.
“I sympathise with those students from the rest of the UK, many of whom feel that they are being financially penalised, because they are being asked to pay annual fees of up to £9,000 to subsidise students from other countries.
“The Scottish Government’s plans are ill-thought out and a calculated measure. They have done little to address the long-term funding pressures faced by the higher education sector in Scotland while also discouraging students from studying in Scotland.”
Email to a friend
Print this page- Family mourn death of Glasgow ‘fight’ schoolboy
- Rangers takeover: Duff & Phelps threaten legal action against BBC
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
- Rangers administration: Fans fear Duff & Phelps claims could scare off Green
- Rangers takeover: triple penalty punishment enough, says Johnston
- Alistair Darling leads ‘No to independence’ fight over tea and biscuits
- Scottish independence: SNP flip-flops over Nato
- Scottish Independence: SNP ‘won’t be Yes campaign’s only voice’
- Scottish independence: Alex Salmond’s pledge to sign up 1m voters
- Today’s youth not fit to be employed, says car firm Arnold Clark
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Edinburgh
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Comments
There are 108 comments to this article
Page 1 of 8
Anagach
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 06:42 PM107 ItsTime How many cybernats think that the English government will pay for English students to study at Scottish Universities? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What English government ?.
ItsTime
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 09:30 AMHow many cybernats think that the English government will pay for English students to study at Scottish Universities?
Anagach
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 07:01 AMThe Answer, --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I see that youve moved onto any other number you can get, patents this time. Is the sad truth about charging for education putting people off that you have to move topic. I see English students just stopped applying for everywhere, inside England -8.3%, going to Scotland -15.8%, going to N.Ireland -14.4%, going to other EU -12.8%. Yep making people pay at point of need is just so empowering., but thats alright patents - driven by people who were educated at low or no cost were once high.
Kon
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 01:11 AM100 Anagach, good to see you flop at education as you do defence (tomahawk cruise missiles just make a "bang")
The Answer
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:27 AMOf all the UK patients granted in the years 2006 - 2010 ...................... 90.54% . . . . England ________________________________________ 5.99% . . . . scotland _________________________________________ http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2012-01 26a.91556.h&s=scotland+england#g91556.r0 error corrected.
The Answer
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:15 AMOf all the UK patients granted in the years 2006 - 2010 ............................. 90.82% . . . . England ________________________________________ 5.81% . . . . scotland _________________________________________ http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2012-01 26a.91556.h&s=scotland+england#g91556.r0
The Answer
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:09 AMUCAS stats for 29 Jan ...... sorry they dont match your fantasy gaga....... http://www.ucas.co.uk/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2012/20120130
The Answer
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 12:06 AM"What have you got. Even a link to where you get your numbers ?" . ..................... http://search1.ucas.co.uk/fandf00/index.html
Anagach
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:58 PM99 The Answer the reduction in £s per head funding in scotland, and the massive reduction on average 1,500 for 2010 and another 1,500 in 2011 (3,000 total) in new undergraduates at edinburgh university? ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What have you got. Even a link to where you get your numbers ?. I have pointed you to the address of the Old College where they can happily help resolve your questions regarding the numbers at Edinburgh University. I see English students just stopped applying for everywhere, inside England -8.3%, going to Scotland -15.8%, going to N.Ireland -14.4%, going to other EU -12.8%. Yep making people pay at point of need is just so empowering.
The Answer
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:23 PManagaged, so what excuse have you got for the reduction in £s per head funding in scotland, and the massive reduction on average 1,500 for 2010 and another 1,500 in 2011 (3,000 total) in new undergraduates at edinburgh university?
Anagach
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:14 PM96 The Answer I think you will find that the English government in Westminster decided to dispense with non essential assets, or did I miss something about the snp having any input on the issue? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ There is an English government in Westminster, I thought the Independence vote wasn't until 2014, did they do it the same time as the merger with the Art School?.
Anagach
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:03 PM92 Bottler Kenny here They may say they want to charge that amount. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No Kenny those are the amounts. Not say, bill. The final list is available and there are not many Nobels lying around in the £9000 category. Total amounts being important is not the point. The point is the Government, the BBC, the newspapers, quote annual rates for 25 years and then in the space of a few weeks it becomes fashionable to speak of the total, but only in relation to English domiciled students coming to Scotland. There have been no measure of balance applied regarding the cost of a degree in Scotland compared to that in England for 25 years, but now this last year its a hot topic. Thats the point.
The Answer
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:03 PM#94 . . . Anagach . . "You sure they are English, last time I checked they werent," ...... I think you will find that the English government in Westminster decided to dispense with non essential assets, or did I miss something about the snp having any input on the issue?
The Answer
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 11:00 PM2007 snp win 'power' spending per head on Tertiary education England . . 2007 = £177, . . . 2008 = £179, . . . 2009 = £200, . . . 2010 = £203 . . . . . Not including £4.5 billion collected in Fee's ...
Anagach
Monday, January 30, 2012 at 10:58 PM91 The Answer #86 ... .. Anagach, ex kinloss and leuchers comes to mind!, along with that English nuclear base at faslane... glad to help. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ You sure they are English, last time I checked they werent, but then maybe they merged with the English Shoe company Ltd when I was away.
Page 1 of 8
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.