News
Student University Enrolments fall by 10% in Scotland.
- 26 October 2010
Student University Enrolments fall by 10% in Scotland. According to figures published yesterday by UCAS, the number of students enrolling in courses at Scottish universities has fallen by 10 per cent this year following a reduction in the number of places available.
Published yesterday, the figures also show the number of Scots staying in Scotland to study fell by 6.9 % this year and the number of English students enrolled in Scottish universities fell by 27.9 %.
Record numbers applied to university over the past two years because of the economic downturn and the resulting lack of suitable alternatives. In consequence, universities were overwhelmed with unexpected acceptances and were forced to reduce places this year or face government fines of up to £4,000 for each extra student recruited.
According to several critics, these figures could indicate in a “crisis" as thousands miss out on a university place this year and a significant proportion of a generation of learners are denied access to Higher Education.
Government minister David Willetts has called on universities to consider alternatives to attendance based study and look for new approaches to teaching and learning in an attempt to provide greater opportunities for those who wish to access degree level courses.