Supporting students: our record
by In government we’re working to make sure all our young people get equal chances and choices to succeed in life.
Here are just some of the ways an SNP government has helped young people get the skills and opportunities they need.
Free tuition has been maintained, saving students in Scotland up to £27,750 compared to the cost of studying in England.
A record £834.8 million was invested in university student support in 2016-17, supporting more students than ever before.
Scotland continues to punch above its weight with five universities in the top 200 – the same number as last year, and more than any other country per head of population except Luxembourg.
A record number of Scots have been supported into university. Students from deprived backgrounds getting a place at university is at a record high too – up 13 per cent in the last year. Overall, the number of people studying at Scottish universities increased by 10 per cent over the last year.
We have reformed postgraduate student support, leading to record numbers of postgraduate students at Scottish universities. Entrants on taught postgraduate programmes have increased by 21 per cent between 2006-07 and 2016-17.
We have maintained the non-means tested bursary for nursing and midwifery students, which has been scrapped in England. Between 2016 and 2017 the number of people from Scotland accepted to nursing courses increased by 8 per cent – compared to a 3 per cent fall in English acceptances.
Over 119,000 full-time equivalent college places are now being provided – exceeding our commitment to maintain 116,000 places. And the number of full-time college students completing recognised higher education qualifications is at an all-time high.
We have invested over £550 million in college estates between 2007 and 2015. We’re supporting a further £300 million of investment to deliver new campuses at City of Glasgow, Inverness and Ayrshire Colleges. And Forth Valley and Fife Colleges will share £140 million for new campuses too.
More young women entering Scottish universities are choosing to study science, technology, engineering and maths subjects and now make up 48 per cent of all those gaining degrees.
More graduates from Scottish universities are going on to further study or work than the UK average. And Scottish graduates are earning more too.