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Record number of young Scots at university
19/08/2012
A record number of young Scots will go to university in Scotland this year with thousands more applications still to be processed.
The figures, released by UCAS on Higher Results day, show that 22,292 Scots pupils have been accepted to Scottish universities following this year’s best ever exam results.
This is an increase of 3.1 per cent on last year, with a further 3,100 applications still being processed, with more students eligible for the UCAS Clearing system.
Education Secretary Michael Russell said:
“The case for keeping education free in Scotland has been proven beyond doubt. This year we have had the highest achieving pupils sitting Highers and the highest number of young people secure their preferred university place since records began.
“The figures tell their own story. But it is not just about numbers, it’s about the students themselves. We want to ensure every Scottish school leaver has the best opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.
“Scotland is the only country in the UK to ensure young people, our workforce of the future, can go to university based on ability, not the ability to pay. We are also the only country in the UK with an increase in the number of total acceptances – compared to a significant decrease of 8 per cent in England. And Scotland is the only place in the UK where every young person aged 16 to 19 is guaranteed a place in training or education.”
Background
Latest figures show that the number of Scottish students at Scottish universities sits at around 86 per cent.
In addition to the steps being taken to introduce widening access measures within legislation, Scottish Government has provided, through the Scottish Funding Council, additional 1,000 funded places at the University of the Highlands and Islands and a further 50 at Crichton Campus in Dumfries.
UCAS figures show the numbers of Scottish students accepted to Scottish universities in recent years as follows:
2012 – 22,292
2011 – 21,630
2010 – 22,043
2009 – 19,944
2008 – 20,708