Scottish government fund will create thousands of new university places

THOUSANDS of new university places are to be created with a multi-million pound fund set aside by the Scottish government, it was announced today.

• 2000 extra places at university will be created for young people with £10 million fund to help

• Scottish Government is keen to allow young Scots in deprived areas to realise potential

An extra 2000 university places will be created for young people and funded with £10 million previously announced by ministers.

Half of the funds will be for students progressing from college to university, which ministers say will widen access.

Education Secretary Michael Russell said: “Scotland already has a record number of people at university. We have abolished tuition fees to ensure education remained free and now also offer the best financial support package for students in the whole of the UK. To further widen access, we will now help more than 2,000 extra young people go to university.

“This will mean more young Scots, including those from our most deprived communities, will reap the benefits of a university education. This funding will help more college students see their learning count towards a university degree and ensure young people from deprived areas who show potential get the support and education they need to realise that potential.

“Even within our limited fiscal powers, our actions to ensure young people access education based on ability to learn rather than the ability to pay underlines our commitment to supporting a highly skilled workforce and a growing economy. In an independent Scotland, with full job creating powers we could do even more.”