Supporting students: our record

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.