Report shows increase in undergraduates from most deprived parts of Scotland

Photos: Robert Gordon University, University of Dundee, Dundee & Angus College, UHI Moray.

New figures from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) show that 16.7% of Scottish-domiciled full-time first degree entrants to university were from the 20% most deprived areas in 2023-24, up from 16.3% in 2022-23.

The findings come from the ninth SFC Report on Widening Access, providing updated statistics relating to equality and diversity of the student population across Scotland’s Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) and colleges for 2023-24.

The report also shows that 2,030 people from a care experienced background began an undergraduate higher education course at a Scottish college or university in 2023-24. This number represented 2.4% of entrants to all undergraduate HE courses at Scotland’s colleges and universities in 2023-24, and is up from 2.1% in 2022-23. Both the numbers of care experienced students and the percentage of student intakes have increased every year since 2013-14.

The report also makes clear that, while students form Scotland’s most deprived communities are now more equally represented in entry numbers to higher education courses, this is not equally the case for different institutions and for different types of study.

Commenting on the statistics, Scottish Funding Council Chief Executive, Francesca Osowska, said:

“It is great to see a continuation of more young people from a care experienced background go to college and university and is an important part of working towards fair access.

“It is also encouraging to see in today’s report an increase in the number students going to university from the most deprived areas in Scotland. This is incredibly important in helping to create a more equal society, by widening access to tertiary education for all and ensuring that economic development benefits all parts of Scotland.”