Fresh attack on fees for English students

Published on Sunday 10 July 2011 15:24

The vast majority of the British public believe it is unfair that English students are charged at Scottish universities while Scots and EU students are not, according to a survey.

A YouGov poll found 80 per cent of those questioned said the Scottish policy of charging students from the rest of the UK was unfair.

Almost three-quarters also believe there should be a change in the law to treat all British students equally.

First Minister Alex Salmond has said "the rocks will melt with the sun" before he allows Scottish students to be charged for their education.

However, EU anti-discrimination rules mean Scotland must treat EU students from outside the UK the same as Scottish students. Scotland is still permitted to charge students from elsewhere in the UK. The Scottish Government is currently trying to find a way around these rules to allow them to charge non-UK EU students as well.

The Conservatives accused the SNP of "a lack of clear thinking" on higher education amid further reports that applications from students from the rest of the UK to come and study in Scotland have fallen.

Official figures published last week revealed that Scottish universities have received around 5,000 fewer applications from students south of the Border - down from 32,429 to 27,631.

However, while applications are down, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said the number of students whose applications are successful is not expected to change.

She said: "Since 2003-4, final entrant figures for English students have remained between 6,400 and 8,400. We don't expect this to change.

"Demand from English students to attend universities in Scotland outstrips supply by four times."

"Universities wanted a flexible and variable system where they are responsible for setting fees and managing course fees for students from the rest of the UK to compete with the market created in England."