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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.
