Photo: Abertay University
Students from Scotland’s most deprived communities are entering higher education in greater numbers and increasingly staying and succeeding in their studies, according to the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC’s) latest Report on Widening Access.
One of the most encouraging findings is the recovery in university retention rates. Of Scottish-domiciled full-time first degree students who entered university in 2023-24, 91.7% returned for their second year of study, up 2.2 percentage points on the previous year.
Retention among students from the 20% most deprived parts of Scotland (SIMD20) showed strong improvement, rising by 1.6 percentage points to 87.7%. This represents a second consecutive year of recovery.
Retention rates also improved for other key groups. Care experienced students saw retention increase by 1.5 percentage points to 86.4%, while retention among disabled students rose by 1.8 percentage points to 90.4%.
The number of care experienced students entering higher education also reached a record level. There were 2,285 care experienced entrants to undergraduate higher education courses across colleges and universities in 2024-25, accounting for 2.8% of all entrants. Both the number and proportion of care experienced entrants have increased every year since 2014-15.
In universities alone, 805 care experienced students entered full-time first degree courses, representing 2.3% of entrants. Care experienced students were also more likely to come from deprived communities, with 30.1% of care experienced university entrants living in SIMD20 areas.
The report also shows continued growth in participation among disabled students. More than a quarter (25.5%) of Scottish-domiciled full-time first degree entrants declared a disability (where known) in 2024-25, the highest proportion recorded.
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“These figures demonstrate encouraging progress towards Scotland’s widening access ambitions. It is particularly positive to see retention rates improving for students from the most deprived parts of Scotland, care experienced students and disabled students, showing that more learners are not only accessing higher education but staying on through their studies.
“As we work towards future widening access targets, this report highlights the commitment across Scotland’s colleges and universities to ensure learners from all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed and fulfil their potential.”
Photo: Queen Margaret University
Seven university-led projects designed to drive innovation, collaboration and long-term sustainability across Scotland’s tertiary education sector have been approved for support through the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) University Transformation Framework (UTF).
In response to the increasingly challenging operating environment, SFC established the framework, which has enabled the redirection of some core funding to give universities greater flexibility in developing innovative approaches to transformation, strengthen partnerships across the tertiary sector and support financial sustainability.
The approved projects span a range of priorities, including enhanced pathways between colleges and universities, shared services, digital transformation, medical education partnerships, infrastructure planning and research collaboration.
At Abertay University, the project will focus on creating stronger access routes for students through jointly delivered and recognised provision with Dundee & Angus College and Fife College. The initiative will also modernise systems and processes to improve transitions from further to higher education and explore the use of artificial intelligence to support forecasting and the student experience.
Edinburgh Napier University, working with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Queen Margaret University (QMU), will develop a blueprint for a strategic tertiary education alliance. The project will explore shared services, procurement, qualifications design and improved systems to enable smoother student transitions.
The University of Glasgow will modernise its ethics review processes and, in partnership with the University of Edinburgh, establish governance, operational structures and shared systems to support the Scottish Health and Biomedical Institute (SHBI). The work is expected to benefit researchers across Scotland and the UK through stronger collaboration underpinned by more efficient processes.
The Open University in Scotland will expand its Catalyst Centre partnerships with five colleges, creating more accessible learning opportunities and clearer progression routes to degree-level study.
Queen Margaret University will advance a three-year transformation programme focused on reforming QMU’s operating model and academic delivery reform.
The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland will undertake a comprehensive review of operations and estates infrastructure including opportunities for campus redevelopment, as well as assessing RCS’s wider economic impact.
Meanwhile, the University of St Andrews will work with the University of Dundee to develop a future-facing partnership for medical education and innovation, laying the foundations for shared curriculum development, research infrastructure and clinical academic pathways.
Helen Cross, Director of Investment and Research at SFC said,
“These projects demonstrate the ambition, innovation and collaboration that exist across Scotland’s university sector. The projects showcase universities working together, and in many cases alongside colleges, to develop new approaches that will strengthen student pathways, improve efficiency, support innovation and enhance long-term sustainability. They reflect the sector’s commitment to adapting to a challenging financial environment while continuing to deliver for learners, communities and Scotland’s economy.
“The University Transformation Framework is a fantastic example of SFC responding to the needs of the sector. By introducing flexibility in our funding approach, we’ve been able to target monies already allocated to the sector to projects that will support meaningful transformation.”
Photo: Commonwealth Games 2026
An incredible 27 current Winning Students 100 scholars have been selected to compete at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow starting this week, with a further 25 programme alumni also taking to one of the biggest sporting stages in the world.
Athletes from eight further and higher education institutions across Scotland, all backed by Scotland’s national sport scholarship programme, are representing Team Scotland in no less than 11 sports.
Winning Students 100 was established with Scottish Funding Council (SFC) funding in 2008 and saw over 1,700 scholarships awarded during its first phase. Well known athletes who have benefited from the scheme include Olympic medallists Laura Muir, Duncan Scott, Vicky Wright and Seonaid McIntosh.
Now, the programme is set to continue until 2028 and was relaunched as Winning Students 100 in 2024. The initiative provides athletes with grants of up to £3,000 and offers them additional support such as academic flexibility. Winning Students 100 also includes a hardship fund offering additional support to eligible student athletes.
This Commonwealth Games in athletics, University of Edinburgh Applied Sport Science student Megan Keith will be in search of Commonwealth glory in the 5,000m and 10,000m events while teammate Alyson Bell will be taking on the 200m and 4x100m relay.
Previous athletics scholars including legendary runners Eilish McColgan and Laura Muir, as well as Christopher Bennett, Sarah Calvert, Stephen Mackenzie and Jax Thoirs will all be taking to the track and field in the coming weeks, in everything from pole vault and hammer to mile race and long jump.
Cycling sees Scottish legend Mark Stewart of the University of Strathclyde make his fourth Games appearances, while past Winning Students 100 scholars Neah Evans and Lauren Bell will also be in action in Glasgow.
A formidable swimming contingent will head to the Commonwealth Games, with twelve current scholars selected for the pool programme, including Angharad Evans, Evie Davis, Lucy Grieve, Jamie Ferguson, Archie Goodburn, Evan Jones, Stefan Krawiec, Holly McGill, Anna Morgan, Ciara Schlosshan, Katie Shanahan and George Smith.
They will be joined by alumni Duncan Scott, Lucy Hope, Keanna MacInnes and Scott Gibson, creating one of the strongest Winning Students 100 representations at any Games.
In para-swimming, current scholars Faye Rogers, Sam Downie and Toni Shaw will compete alongside alumni James Clegg, Stephen Clegg and Ollie Carter.
Katie Shanahan, who won bronze in the 400m Individual Medley and 200m Backstroke at Birmingham 2022, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to be picked for my second Commonwealth Games. I’ve got a lot of family and friends coming to watch and it’s literally down the road from where I live so it just makes it even more special. It’s not long now with the final preparations and competitions coming up and the excitement is definitely building.
“Competing for Team Scotland is just so different, it only happens once every four years and there’s a different energy about it all. It’s different in a very good way and I’m looking forward to getting back in that environment in the prep camp and then in Glasgow. I just can’t wait to compete.”
Jacqui Brasted, Director in Strategic Transformation & Skills at SFC said:
“Having funded the programme from the start we’re incredibly proud to support Winning Students 100 athletes this Commonwealth Games. Seeing 27 current scholars and 25 alumni selected to compete is a remarkable achievement and a testament to their dedication, hard work and talent.
“These athletes demonstrate that it is possible to pursue academic success while performing at the highest levels of international competition. We wish every member of Team Scotland the best as they prepare to represent their country and inspire the next generation of student athletes across Scotland.”
Cathy Gallagher, Chair, Winning Students 100 Advisory Board said:
“The Commonwealth Games represent another significant milestone for the Winning Students 100 programme, which proudly supports some of the country’s most talented student athletes as they pursue success at the highest level.
“As Glasgow prepares to welcome the world’s athletes this summer, dozens of current and former scholars will be among those flying the flag for their nations, demonstrating the strength, depth and future of sport development in Scotland. I have no doubt the Games will be an incredible moment of pride for all those involved and I wish the athletes every success for this momentous occasion.”
The impressive Commonwealth Games representation underlines the role Winning Students 100 plays in helping student athletes balance elite sport with higher education, providing support that enables them to pursue success both in competition and academia.
The Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games runs from 23 July – 2 August 2026.
Photos (left to right): University of the Highlands and Islands, University of Glasgow, Fife College
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has confirmed funding for the next phase of EAUC Scotland’s delivery of the national programme towards environmental sustainability for colleges and universities.
SFC’s partnership with EAUC Scotland stretches back to 2008. Under the current programme, which began in 2025, EAUC Scotland has provided 27 events, training sessions and webinars and reached over 650 people. The programme has also produced important new resources for colleges and universities across Scotland. Two of these have received Scottish Green Apple Awards for excellence in environmental sustainability.
The focus of the new funding, which is worth £169,500 and runs until July 2027, is on helping colleges and universities respond to updated Scottish Government guidance on climate change duties for public bodies.
Lynne Raeside, Interim Co-Director and Deputy Director of External Affairs at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“We’re committed to supporting Scotland’s progress towards a more sustainable future, and EAUC continues to be an effective and valued partner in this important area of our work.
“The Scottish Government’s updated guidance on climate change duties is designed to help public bodies minimise their emissions as well as to become resilient to the impacts of a changing climate.
“It’s important that SFC supports these aims and I’m pleased we have been able to extend our funding for EAUC Scotland into 2027.”
Matt Woodthorpe, Scotland Director at EAUC, said:
“It is fantastic to have the Scottish Funding Council’s support once again as we continue to help Scotland’s colleges and universities to meet their Public Bodies Climate Change Duties.
“Against the backdrop of the new statutory guidance for institutions, as well as a difficult financial environment, collaboration and innovation continue to be the cornerstones of our shared success. The EAUC Scotland team looks forward to working with the sector on the outcome agreement projects over the next 12 months.”
Photo: WorldSkills UK
Skills and education providers across Scotland are celebrating the outstanding achievements of their students who have secured places in the prestigious WorldSkills UK National Finals. The finals will take place at venues across South Wales from 18-20 November.
The finalists earned their places following a highly competitive series of national qualifiers, demonstrating exceptional technical skills, knowledge and professionalism in their chosen disciplines.
Scotland will be represented by 27 finalists representing eight colleges, one university and the Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust. They will be competing in technology categories such as cyber security, digital construction and renewables as well as in more traditional skills such as hairdressing and plumbing.
The WorldSkills UK National Finals bring together the most talented apprentices and learners from across the UK to compete in over 40 different technical skills. Designed in partnership with industry, the competitions give entrants the practical experience and work-ready skills they need to thrive in their careers.
Mark Smallman, Operations Director, WorldSkills UK said:
“Congratulations to all the Scottish finalists on securing a place in the WorldSkills UK National Finals.
“This is a tremendous achievement, and the competitions equip learners and apprentices with the skills, confidence and work readiness that employers are crying out for.”
In the 2025 WorldSkills UK National Finals, Scottish competitors brought home four gold, three silver and three bronze medals.
You can find out more on this story on the WorldSkills UK website
Photo: University of Aberdeen
The annual National Student Survey results for 2026 are published today. The nation-wide exercise captures final year undergraduate’s opinions about their experiences at university, including how their course was organised, taught and assessed.
Over 360,000 students responded to the survey with around 24,000 of these responses coming from students at a Scottish university.
Students in Scotland are asked to condense their judgement in a question that asks about their overall satisfaction. This year saw an increase in overall satisfaction of 1.7 percentage points to 82.4%, continuing an upward trend that began in 2024. Despite this, the level of satisfaction continues to fall short of the 85% result recorded in 2020, the last survey to be unaffected by the impact on students of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Since the introduction of the new question set in 2023, the question: “How good are teaching staff at explaining things?” has produced the best response from students at Scottish universities. This year is no different, with a 93.3 percentage point positive response. At the opposite end of the spectrum, respondents were least likely to agree that it was clear to them that students’ feedback on their course had been acted upon.
More generally across all the survey’s questions, the 2026 scores were more positive than the previous year’s results. A notable finding amongst individual universities is that the University of Dundee’s overall satisfaction rating increased by 1.3 percentage points despite the effects of the institution’s financial difficulties.
Richard Maconachie, Director of Institutional Performance at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“The continuation of the upward trend in overall satisfaction is especially encouraging at a time when universities are faced with a challenging financial environment. The overall satisfaction rating at the University of Dundee is a credit to its staff and its students and shows resilience in difficult circumstances.
“Across the sector we are seeing the positive impact of a partnership effort to focus on student needs and the quality of learning and teaching.”
Further information about the National Student Survey 2026 is available from the Office for Students website
Photo: Abertay University
The positive impact of Scottish university research on the country’s business and innovation system is revealed in a new report published today.
The report was commissioned by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) to add to a wider understanding of the economic return of university research. It was compiled by independent experts at Frontier Economics, one of Europe’s largest economic consultancies.
Amongst the report’s key findings is that, outside London, Scottish research is more actively linked to industry than in any other area of the UK when measured by joint authorship of academic papers.
There is evidence too of strong collaboration between Scottish universities and business. In 2023-24 Scottish universities had 7,000-plus external research grants and contracts, half of which were with Scottish small and medium-sized enterprises. In the same period there were over 12,000 consultancy interactions and over 6,000 instances of university involvement in business career development.
The report also shows that Scottish businesses are much more likely than other businesses in the UK overall to report information from universities as being highly important for their innovation activities.
Innovation, Technology and Tertiary Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“This report confirms what we already know – our universities are world class, they punch above their weight and make a real difference to our economy by working closely with businesses to drive innovation.
“We increased funding for university research by 8.1% to £355 million to support institutions to foster expertise, including through university-business partnerships as demonstrated by the impressive work of Xplore Intelligence with Edinburgh Napier University.
“Our National Innovation Strategy sets out how we will build on these strengths to create jobs and opportunities for people across Scotland. This includes our investment in Innovation Centres, growth sectors like Space, Life Sciences and AI, and our work with Interface who help facilitate connections between business and academia to drive innovation.”
Helen Cross, SFC’s Director of Investment and Research, said:
“There are widely recognised connections between university research and broader benefits such as regional economic growth, company productivity and social well-being.
“Today’s report shows how Scotland is harnessing these connections in ways that are making a real difference to businesses and communities.
“It also adds to our understanding of the economic return to university research. Previous reports have indicated strong performance in this area including a £400 million contribution to the economy in 2029 from SFC-funded research.”
Laura Goodfellow, the Director of Interface, said:
“Interface has helped over 2,000 businesses and organisations, supporting their research and innovation needs by making connections into Scotland’s world-class academic communities.
“Once the connections are made, there is a strong chance that the business continues to work with the university or college partner or goes on to work with other institutes, leading to positive contributions to employment, the economy and society.”
Alex Shkrebelo, the co-Founder and CEO of Xplore Intelligence, added:
“Working with Interface allowed us to fast-track rigorous, science-led validation of our technology with Edinburgh Napier – cutting months off our development timeline.
“Backed by SFC funding, this helped us not just keep pace with a fast-moving market, but move ahead of it – building globally relevant, UK-leading AI technology and earning a place in Tech Nation’s Breakout 50 – the UK’s top 50 most promising tech startups.”
The Frontier Economics report The Impact of Scottish University Research on Scotland’s Economy is now available on the SFC website.
Photos: Forth Valley College, UHI Inverness, UHI Perth and West Lothian College
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has announced its final funding allocations for the next academic year.
Based on the education and skills provision announced in the 2026–27 Scottish Budget, today’s allocations will maximise opportunities for learners and support for colleges and universities at a time of financial restraint.
The college sector in Scotland will see a significant 8% increase to the funding allocated for teaching in 2026–27. The rise represents a £42.5 million uplift compared with the current year’s allocation. The money colleges will receive for the ongoing maintenance of their campuses and infrastructure will remain the same year-on-year at £32 million. However, an extra £8.2 million will be made available for colleges’ high priority needs, bringing the total to £10.7 million in this area of funding.
Scotland’s universities and their students will benefit from a 3.3% (23.6 million) increase in the funding allocated for teaching activities. Researchers, and those working to transform discovery into innovations for society and the economy, will see a 26.8 million (just over 8%) rise in their funding for 2026–27.
The final funding allocations for universities also include additional funding from the Scottish Government associated with controlled subjects where intake targets are set by the Scottish Government.
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Colleges and universities play a key role in Scotland’s economy, helping build the skills, knowledge and ideas that drive our future prosperity and wellbeing. They also make a real difference in the lives of the people who study and work there.
“The increase in college and university funding announced in the Budget means we can invest in ways that open up more opportunities for learners and help institutions keep delivering world-leading research and innovation.”
Full details of the final funding allocations for Scotland’s colleges and universities can be found on the SFC website.
Photo: Dundee and Angus College
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has published its latest report on the outcomes of people finishing their course at college.
Amongst the report’s key findings is that more students successfully completed their course in 2024-25 than in the previous academic year. There were year-on-year increases at both higher and further education levels and for full and part time students. Full time higher education study saw the largest increase in successful completion, up 5.4 percentage points.
The report suggests the reasons for the increase may include recovery from the negative impacts of the strike action that took place in many colleges in 2022-23 and 2023-24. Colleges themselves noted the positive effect of new measures such as targeted learner support.
The wider adoption of targeted learner support, alongside other changes such as trauma-informed practice and additional staff training, has been one of the benefits of recently introduced self-evaluation and action plans. Part of Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework, the plans were developed by SFC in partnership with the college sector.
Tertiary Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“These statistics show improvements in college attainment levels – that we can all continue to build on – and the Scottish Government will continue to work with the sector to help students overcome barriers to learning and to reach their full potential.
“The Scottish Government passionately recognises the important role that colleges play in our communities, the economy, and supporting people to get the skills they need to succeed. That is why the 2026-27 budget has delivered a combined increase of £70 million in resource and capital funding for our colleges, equivalent to 10% uplift on last year’s budget, taking our total investment in core college funding to over three quarters of a billion pounds.”
Commenting on the findings, Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“The rise in the percentage of college students successfully finishing their course is great news for the sector and for individual students. It’s also great news for businesses looking for the skills and abilities students acquire in completing a course at college.
“Statistical reports such as this one and others produced by the Scottish Funding Council provide important insights into the college sector and help drive improvement and innovation.”
The latest College Student Outcome report is now available on the SFC website.
Photo: The Open University
The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) has today published the names of those institutions that will be included in the next stage of its national review of awarding arrangements.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) commissioned the national review following an investigation by QAA of a concern at the University of Glasgow. It is intended to provide additional assurance that we are delivering against our statutory responsibilities to secure the quality of learning and teaching provision, protect and enhance the student learning experience and ensure quality assurance processes are robust, transparent and support confidence in standards.
Today’s publication by QAA marks the next phase of this process and will involve a deep dive review to determine whether an institution’s arrangements for the awarding of qualifications are being applied consistently, effectively and transparently, and that academic standards are being maintained. Each review will be carried out by a team of three trained peers, including a student reviewer, and will include an on-site visit by the review team.
Those selected for inclusion include a mix of institutions that have met a range of criteria identified through the process to date and institutions that have volunteered to be part of this process. As such, inclusion in the sample does not suggest there is a concern about the awarding arrangements at an institution.
The institutions selected for deep-dive review are as follows:
- Abertay University
- Glasgow Caledonian University
- Herriot-Watt University
- Robert Gordon University
- University of Dundee
- University of Edinburgh
- University of St Andrews
- University of Stirling
- University of the West of Scotland
Commenting on QAA’s publication, Erica Russell-Hensens, Deputy Director of Student Interests, Access and Quality, said:
SFC has robust monitoring and assurance processes in place through the Outcomes Framework and Assurance Model and Scotland’s Tertiary Quality Enhancement Framework.
However, given the issues identified following the investigation by QAA of a concern at the University of Glasgow, we are seeking additional assurance through this national review that the risks highlighted in one institution are not systemic.
We are grateful to QAA for moving at pace to ensure the review remains on track to deliver by the end of the year and grateful to the institutions for their full participation.
Photo: University of St. Andrews
Placing value on good research conduct and its governance helps to ensure that industry, international partners, governments and the public can continue to have confidence in Scottish university research and its world-leading researchers.
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has today reaffirmed its commitment to the highest standards of rigour and integrity in research, by publishing a new research integrity policy. The policy will apply to Scottish universities receiving research and innovation funding from SFC, and to the research activities which it directly funds.
The move follows the launch in 2025 of a refreshed Concordat to Support Research Integrity, a UK-wide framework to support good research conduct.
The Scottish Funding Council’s research integrity policy will take effect from 1 September.
The research integrity policy is now available on the SFC website.
Photos: UHI Perth, Forth Valley College, Dundee and Angus College
The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has announced its indicative funding allocations for the next academic year.
Based on the education and skills provision announced in the 2026-27 Scottish Budget, today’s allocations will maximise opportunities for learners and support for colleges and universities at a time of financial restraint.
The college sector in Scotland will see a significant 8% increase to the funding allocated for teaching in 2026-27. The rise represents a £42.5 million uplift compared with the current year’s allocation. The money colleges will receive for the ongoing maintenance of their campuses and infrastructure will remain the same year-on-year at £32 million. However, an extra £8.2 million will be made available for colleges’ high priority needs, bringing the total to £10.7 million in this area of funding.
Scotland’s universities and their students will benefit from a 3.3% (23.7 million) increase in the funding allocated for teaching activities. Researchers and those working to transform discovery into innovations for society and the economy will see a 26.8 million (just over 8%) rise in their funding for 2026-27.
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Colleges and universities play a vital role in Scotland’s economy, creating the skills, knowledge and innovations needed for our future prosperity and well-being. They are also transformative in the lives of the people who learn and work in them.
“The uplift in college and university funding announced in the Budget has allowed us to allocate funding that maximises opportunities for learners and supports institutions to continue delivering world-leading research and ground-breaking innovation.”
Full details of the indicative funding allocations for Scotland’s colleges and universities can be found on the SFC website.
Photo: University of Glasgow
Reducing the effect of ships crossing our oceans, improving the health of crops growing in our fields, and finding greener ways to construct and demolish buildings are amongst the challenges that could be ultimately in line for almost €113 million of European research funding.
Their chances of attracting major backing have been boosted here in Scotland by a landmark scheme that brings together research talent from across Europe to forge relationships and create paths to funding with an estimated value to Scottish universities of £47.5 million.
The scheme is financed by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) in association with the Scottish Government. By fostering partnerships, an increasingly important consideration for major funding providers, those qualifying to take part in the scheme could enjoy significant advantages in future grant applications.
Amongst the 19 projects to receive support from the International Collaboration Fund (ICF) are a number of potentially game-changing medical research proposals. They include research into liver disease, developing the next generation of diagnostic technology, and AI-assisted treatments for cardiovascular conditions.
Expanding the science behind the detection of gravitational waves is the subject of another ambitious collaboration to receive an ICF award. The partnership is between the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and three Scottish universities.
Higher Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“Scotland is an outward-looking nation, and our relationships with European partners are central to that.
“These research partnerships demonstrate the strength of what we can achieve through collaboration – from advancing medical knowledge to tackling the climate emergency.
“The Scottish Government is committed to strengthening global connections through research and knowledge exchange, as outlined in Scotland’s International Education Strategy, and this scheme is a clear example of that commitment in action. By forging lasting partnerships across Europe, we are positioning Scotland as a world leader in research and ensuring our universities can compete for the significant funding opportunities that lie ahead.”
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“This fantastic initiative that has clear benefits for Scottish universities. Its value also lies in encouraging European research collaborations that could increase medical knowledge, combat the climate emergency and advance new discoveries in space.
“I’m proud that the Scottish Funding Council has been able to support the scheme and look forward to seeing the partnerships it has created becoming fully developed, well-funded international research projects.”
Dr Tim Storer, SICSA Director, said:
“The International Collaboration Fund is a hugely valuable mechanism for driving research engagement with our European partners and leveraging European Research Council Funding.
“It enables early career researchers from across all disciplines to put rocket boosters under emerging research proposals and drive them forward. These partnerships are often with large and complex European collaborations, where sustained face-to-face engagement is critical to success.
“The entire research community has responded enthusiastically to this excellent scheme and, on behalf of Research Innovation Scotland, we were delighted with the depth and breadth of high-quality proposals from across institutions and disciplines. Funding opportunities like ICF are transformative, invaluable and increasingly scarce for researchers in a very competitive landscape.”
Photo: City of Glasgow College, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, University of Aberdeen, UHI Moray, University of the Highland and Islands.
As a result of £21 million of new, targeted investment in colleges and skills, families at risk of poverty will receive additional support to train, to help them enter stable, well-paid work or progress in their career.
The Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan includes £9 million for a Raising Income through Skills and Education (RISE) Fund, which will give parents and carers practical help to build new skills – offering training they can fit around family life, along with essential support with childcare, travel, and study costs.
A £2 million Training Access Fund will support working adult learners most at risk of poverty to access skills training, to give them the chance to earn more and build a stable career.
A new £10 million Flexible Workforce Development Fund will aim to incentivise businesses to offer training opportunities to parents earning low incomes in a way that meets employer needs while helping working parents and carers increase their earning potential and progress in their careers.
Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“We are committed to making sure that education and training works for everyone, especially those who need it most, as part of our wider efforts to eradicate poverty in Scotland.
“Every person deserves opportunities to build a better future for themselves and their household. This £21 million package of targeted investment in skills will help remove barriers to training, such as childcare and transport costs, which can too often stand between parents and the skills that they need to get on in work.”
Jacqui Brasted, Scottish Funding Council Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes, said:
“Every child should have the opportunity to flourish. Scotland’s colleges can play a vital role in transforming lives by providing a lasting route out of poverty. They offer access to the skills and education needed to support families enter, remain and progress in work.
“We are delighted to be working with Colleges Scotland to ensure that the welcome funding provided by the Scottish Government is targeted where it is needed most.”
Gavin Donoghue, Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, said:
“Colleges are strong community anchors across the country, and the funding pledged kick starts a range of ways that colleges can accelerate and expand programmes that support people to leave poverty.
“The investment into more anti-poverty programmes is welcome recognition of the huge part that colleges play in making people’s lives better.
“Colleges are an opportunity that works, serving learners from some of Scotland’s most deprived communities and are a driving force for social good in every part of the country.”
© Stewart Attwood Photography 2026.
The annual Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards took place yesterday (19 March) at the University of Stirling’s Macrobert Arts Centre. The Awards, now in their 11th year are organised by SFC-funded Interface.
Guests at yesterday’s ceremony celebrated transformative collaborations between Scottish businesses and academics from universities and colleges.
The role Scottish universities play in tackling the climate emergency was recognised with the environmental difference award going to a collaboration to decarbonise the production of precast concrete. Meanwhile, James Jamieson from South Lanarkshire College was the 2026 Knowledge Exchange Champion for his work to promote the expansion of future-proof skills for industry.
The awards also shone a spotlight on the work of Scotland’s innovation centres. The DHI sponsored award for research and innovation in digital health and social care was awarded to a partnership between the University of Edinburgh and a community interest company that supports neurodivergent children. The Data Lab sponsored award for trailblazing AI collaborating went to Red Star AI Ltd and the University of Dundee for an innovation that could prove transformative for patients suffering heart failure.
Full details of last night’s winners and reflections on the 2026 Scottish Knowledge Exchange Awards from the Director of Interface and SFC’s Director of Investment and Research can be found on the Interface website.
Photo: Forth Valley College
The Minister for Higher and Further Education, Ben Macpherson, has announced additional Scottish Government funding to help lay the foundations for the long-term modernisation Scotland’s college campuses.
The announcement came during the Minister’s visit to Dundee and Angus College which has an ambitious 10-year plan for new and expanded campuses in its region.
The initial investment, worth around £2 million, will allow nine colleges to create the detailed plans needed ahead of future major building projects being considered for funding approval. It represents the latest step forward in the national College Infrastructure Investment Programme led by the Scottish Funding Council (SFC). The programme has already seen the development of the first ever database for the whole Scottish college estate and will result in a nationwide plan for strategic investment in the country’s college campuses.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“The Scottish Government recognises the vital role that Scotland’s colleges play in our economy and wider society, and that’s why we’re committed to working closely with the sector to ensure a successful and sustainable future.
“We fully support the work the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is leading with the sector to explore its infrastructure needs and develop a strategic plan, to ensure Scotland has the learning environments needed both now and in the future.
“That’s why we have made additional funding available, which supports SFC with this ‘first wave’ of infrastructure development support, including for Dundee and Angus College.”
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“SFC’s long-term ambition is for college campuses that are high quality, smart and sustainable places to learn, and which support the best possible outcomes for people, society and Scotland’s future economy.
“We have been working hard with colleges across Scotland to be in a position to start making this happen, and I am delighted to see this significant step forward.”
The nine Scottish colleges receiving funding under today’s announcement are Ayrshire College; Borders College; Dundee and Angus College; Dumfries and Galloway College; Forth Valley College; North East Scotland College; UHI Moray; West College Scotland; and UHI Inverness.
The Scottish Funding Council is currently working on the allocation of the first wave of funding and further details will be announced shortly.
Photos: Forth Valley College, UHI Inverness, UHI Perth and West Lothian College
Colleges Scotland, the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government have today announced the launch of an evidence-based future-proofing exercise to shape colleges for the next generation, and ensure they are a first-choice for future learners.
The College Sector of the Future workstream will result in a co-designed set of actions that seek to deliver a college system that is more equitable, future-proofed, empowering and financially sustainable, and which allows colleges to continue to serve as anchor institutions in communities across Scotland.
Higher and Further Education Minister, Ben Macpherson, said:
“Colleges are impactful, anchor institutions in our communities and are key to both reducing poverty and growing our economy. Whether it is school leavers starting a career, people returning to education after some time out, or employees gaining new skills and retraining, a thriving college sector is vital for our shared prosperity and collective wellbeing, as well as for enabling individual learning and success.
“The importance and impact of colleges is likely to become even more significant, as we navigate the changing needs of the economy, rapid technological advancement, social change, and the transition to Net Zero, which is why the Scottish Government welcomes the launch of the College Sector of the Future workstream.
“In a collaborative way, this workstream will help to secure the future of Scotland’s colleges and ensure that they appropriately evolve and adapt to continue to serve learners and meet the needs of employers and communities across Scotland. In the years and decades ahead, together we must make sure that our college sector is ready and able to respond to the various challenges we face and to make the most of new, exciting opportunities.”
Gavin Donoghue, CEO of Colleges Scotland, said:
“Colleges already sit at the heart of Scotland’s economic and anti-poverty ambitions. As Scotland navigates the Just Transition to Net Zero and changing career patterns, all while driving down child poverty, that role becomes even more vital.
“The financial situation facing colleges in recent years is well known, but less so is the opportunity at the start of the second quarter of this century to fundamentally re-look at what a sustainable college sector could be.“Colleges are pleased to be working collaboratively with the Scottish Funding Council and the Scottish Government to deliver a once-in-a-generation set of agreed ambitions that will help sustain the college sector over the longer term, and ensure they are the first-choice for learners seeking to upskill and reskill themselves.”
Francesca Osowska, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Colleges play a vital role in delivering for Scotland. However, the challenging financial environment, and demand for learning to access new knowledge, skills and careers, mean we need to consider how colleges can meet future skills needs and remain at the cornerstone of Scotland’s economic and social wellbeing.
“We are delighted to be working collaboratively with Colleges Scotland and the Scottish Government to design a programme of transformational change which will lead to better outcomes for learners, employers, communities, and regional economies.”
The College Sector of the Future workstream builds on the findings of the Withers Review and the transformation delivered through regionalisation under the Post-16 Education (Scotland) Act 2013.
It will be co-designed and co-delivered between the college sector, the Scottish Funding Council and Scottish Government, with all political parties invited to support the process alongside experts and stakeholders.
The project will be:
- Outcomes-focussed: so that leaners, employers and communities now and in the future are able to access world-class colleges for the intrinsic value of education, as pathways to further education and employment, and as places of shelter and support.
- Place-based and locally responsive: recognising the unique role colleges play in their communities and support regional economic and social development, including poverty alleviation.
- Fair Work First: recognising that Fair Work drives success, wellbeing and prosperity for individuals, organisations and society and that colleges are fair work employers.
- Evidence-based and creative: using the combined analytical and creative capabilities of the parties and stakeholders, the project will provide robust evidential underpinning for creative, innovative options, and their assessment.
Structured around three pillars the work will: firstly synthesise existing evidence on learner, employer and community needs; secondly consider the future role and priorities for colleges, identifying barriers and enablers; and thirdly co-create sustainable, flexible funding framework options.
National and regional workshops will bring together college leaders, learners, trade unions, employers, including SMEs, anti-poverty organisations and wider third sector organisations, and public sector partners to address fundamental questions about lifelong learner journeys, employer collaboration, system agility and sustainable funding.
Recommendations will be jointly presented to ministers by winter 2026.
Photo: University of Dundee
Today, the Scottish Safe Haven Network (SSHN) becomes the newest recipient of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) Research and Innovation Shared Services Collaboration Fund.
Established by the Scottish Government’s Chief Scientist Office and now supported by Research Data Scotland, the Scottish Safe Haven Network connects the organisations behind Scotland’s secure data infrastructure. The SSHN becomes the fifth recipient of the fund following last year’s announcement receiving just under £230,000 from SFC.
The project is led by the University of Edinburgh, working with the University of Dundee and Research Data Scotland. It aims to create a shared services model for accessing data for research in line with the Scottish Government’s strategy for health and social care.
By making Scotland a more attractive proposition for inward investment from UK Research and Innovation, charities and industry, the initiative will also help to improve the financial sustainability of Scottish universities.
Higher and Further Education Minister Ben Macpherson said:
“The world-leading research undertaken in Scotland plays a key role in addressing a number of social, economic and environmental challenges both locally and internationally.
“The Scottish Safe Haven Network is an example of this work, and the investment provided through the Fund will make it easier for researchers to access vital health and social care data. This will help accelerate medical research that can improve treatments, services and outcomes for people across Scotland.”
Helen Cross, Director of Research and Innovation at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Our Shared Services Collaboration Fund is a new way of supporting Scottish universities to work together for efficiency and sustainability.
Streamlining the flow of information between partners within the Safe Haven Network will bring real and tangible benefits for medical research in Scotland”
“It’s great to be able to support such close and pioneering collaborations and I look forward to seeing the project progress.”
Kathy Harrison, DataLoch Programme Lead, University of Edinburgh, said:
“We are delighted to secure this funding, which will allow us to jointly work towards a single application process for researchers seeking detailed, de-identified health data from across Scotland. Once complete, this project will greatly reduce duplication of effort while retaining high standards of data security.”
Photos: Dundee and Angus College, University of Aberdeen, West Lothian College and BE-ST.
A new report from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) shows a growth in the number of enrolments on college courses of students aged between 14 and 21. The increase was largely driven by more enrolments of 16 year olds.
The College Statistics Report draws on newly collected data trends from the past decade and presents a broad picture of college education since 2015-16.
The latest study covers the academic year 2024-2025 and shows more than 2,500 additional enrolments of 16 year olds compared with the previous year. This follows a strategic move for colleges to focus on senior phase students (S4 – S6) and offer more opportunities for their vocational learning. Elsewhere there has been a reduction in enrolments, with most of the change being in part time courses.
Today’s report confirms that the college sector in Scotland once again met the Scottish Funding Council’s target for learning and teaching activity, with 100% of the required places being filled across the country’s 24 colleges. The sector’s target itself has been fine-tuned since 2023 to better reflect anticipated needs. At the same time SFC has maintained its level of funding, resulting in an increase in the price paid for each college place.
For the first time since 2016-17 the number of enrolments by male students on a further education course outnumbers enrolments for female students. For college course enrolments overall the male to female ratio balanced out at 51% male to 49% female.
The College Statistics Report also looks at the subject areas selected by students in a given year. The areas of study that have become more popular over the last decade include those related to construction where there is an increasing demand for more skilled workers.
Martin Boyle, Chief Operating Officer at the Scottish Funding Council, said:
“Reports like today’s are important because they support the responsive and agile decision-making needed in the challenging environment in which colleges and businesses now operate. They also support our ambition to equip people for the changing world of work through funding clear pathways to learning and development.
“I’m really pleased to again see confirmation of the sector’s 100% delivery against the activity target and to see evidence of effective forward planning in the sector.”
College Statistics 2024-25 is now available on the SFC website.
Photos: University of Aberdeen, University of Glasgow, University of St. Andrews
New figures released today by the university admissions service, UCAS, show an all-time high number of Scottish school leavers applying to study at university. This year’s figure of 22,360 applicants aged 18 or under is up by four percent on last year.
For all Scots looking to start a degree later in 2026, applicants have increased for the third year in a row. Overall applicant figures for Scottish universities shows that, taking into account the unprecedented pressure on places during the COVID 19 pandemic, demand continues to grow. This year’s figure of 123,170 reflects a year on year increase of 2%.
The UCAS data also contains good news for Scotland’s long running commitment to fair access to higher education. At 17.5% a record proportion of applicants living in Scotland and applying to study at university here are from the most deprived areas of the country. Students in this group are also applying in greater numbers to universities in the rest of the UK with a 4% increase from last year’s total.
Also in today’s figures is an indication that demand for degree qualifications in both nursing and midwifery is recovering. However, the number of applicants for teacher training has seen a fall of 6%.
New from UCAS for 2026 is data about applicants intentions about whether or not to live at home as they study for their undergraduate degree. The indications are that the current high cost of living is encouraging more students to study from home.
Today’s UCAS figures show applications up until the 14 January deadline. UCAS will publish updated figures at key points in the 2026 application cycle including when Scottish exam results become available in early August.