Stem student intake or face fine

UNIVERSITIES could be fined thousands of pounds for taking on too many students in subjects the government previously targeted for extra recruitment.

Stem subjects – science, technology, engineering and maths – had been free of an upper limit as politicians sought to boost student numbers in key subjects to stimulate the economy.

However, record applications this year mean the Scottish Government has decided to cap intake and fine any institution breaking the limit by more than 10 per cent. To avoid fines, universities will be cutting intake, increasing competition for places.

The institution most likely to be affected by the cap is Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, which specialises in Stem subjects and is already 11 per cent over the limit.

It is expected to reduce student places by nearly 5,000 in the coming years in an attempt to avoid fines.

Labour education spokesman Des McNulty described the move as "wrong-headed". He said: "Scotland will need highly-qualified graduates in these key disciplines to remain competitive."

However, a Scottish Government spokesman said it was necessary to cap places to maintain a high-quality of graduates.