Increased number of Scots from deprived areas in higher education, Ucas finds

More people from Scotland’s most deprived areas are securing places at higher education institutions, figures have indicated.

The latest Ucas End of Cycle Report showed a 54% offer rate for applications in 2018 from quintile one – the 20% most deprived areas in Scotland.

It accounted for 15,445 offers – up from 14,710 (51%) in 2017 – with increases also seen in the four other quintiles:

– 1.3% in quintile two (16,115 students up from 15,660)

– 0.9% in quintiles three and four (17,250 students up from 17,120 and 21,530 up from 21,365)

– 0.6% in quintile five, which is considered the 20% least deprived areas (28,110 students up from 28,025).

Minister for Further and Higher Education Richard Lochhead said: “The Scottish Government wants every young person in Scotland to have an equal chance of success, no matter their background or circumstance.

“By 2030, we want 20% of students entering university to come from Scotland’s most deprived backgrounds, a policy that the Commissioner for Fair Access Sir Peter Scott has said ‘vindicates’ free higher education.

“It’s great to see the increase in people from our most deprived areas getting a place at a Scottish University in today’s Ucas data.

“However, there is still more to do, and I would encourage all of our universities to continue to build on the positive progress that has been made.”