SFC news published since 2018. See SFC archived content for earlier news articles.
Figures published by the university admissions service UCAS to coincide with exam results day show a record number of Scots have been offered a place at their first choice of university.
According to UCAS, 31,220 Scottish applicants have been accepted for their first choice of a full-time undergraduate course, an increase of around 15 per cent compared with the same point in 2019 – the last results day before the pandemic.
The UCAS statistics confirm earlier indications of a strong demand for university places across the whole of the UK. In Scotland 52,750 people have applied for courses at a UK university, an increase of 10 percent on last year. This is partly because more Scottish school leavers have been placed, with 28% of Scottish 18 year olds placed so far, the highest on record.
Overall, 31,660 Scottish students (up 12 per cent compared with this time last year) have been accepted on a degree course for the new academic year. In anticipation of increased demand – and as part of its response to the special circumstances created by the pandemic – SFC’s annual allocation of university funding for 2021-22 included around £14 million of Scottish Government money for additional funded places.
Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Scottish school students and their teachers have worked incredibly hard in the most challenging of circumstances and today’s exam results are a tribute to their amazing efforts.“The figures from UCAS are encouraging in showing record numbers of Scottish students being offered their first choice of a university place. I know that both universities and colleges across Scotland will be supporting students to move successfully to the next part of their learner journey.”
The latest university admissions statistics are now available on the UCAS website.
