Scotland’s colleges: get the facts
by Scotland has a colleges sector to be proud of. Thanks to the hard work of those who work in further education, more students are achieving recognised qualifications and are going on to further study, training or work.
Here are the facts.
✔️ In 2018-19, the colleges budget will increase in real terms and we will maintain at least 116,000 full-time equivalent college places.
✔️ Almost 95 per cent of college leavers go into further study, training or work.
✔️ College students make up 37 per cent of students beginning university-level degrees. And in 2016-17 the number of enrolments in university-level courses was at the highest level for a decade.
✔️ College students are being supported with record levels of support. In 2017-18, £107 million of college bursaries, childcare and discretionary funds were available – a 32 per cent real terms increase compared to 2006-07.
✔️ A record level of college teaching was for recognised qualifications. In 2016-17 over 97 per cent of learning hours were on courses that led to recognised qualifications – up 8.7 per cent since 2006-07.
✔️ Under the SNP 12,000 more students are on full-time courses. Between 2008-09 and 2015-16 there was a 12,000 increase in the number of full-time students completing courses. And the majority of college enrolments in 2016-17 were for part-time courses too.
✔️ Over 9 in 10 students are happy with their college experience. Over 90 per cent of full-time and over 94 per cent of part-time students were satisfied with their college experience.
✔️ The number of mature students is going up. The number of students aged over 25 working towards recognised qualifications has increased by over 18 per cent since 2006-07.
✔️ More disabled people are studying at college. The proportion of learning hours delivered to disabled students has increased by 4.8 per cent under the SNP.
✔️ Black and Minority Ethnic students are undertaking a record proportion of college courses. The proportion of learning hours delivered to Black and Minority Ethnic students has increased by 6.4 per cent under the SNP.