A RECORD number of students from Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities have secured a place at university, according to figures.
Admission service Ucas said there had been a 13 per cent increase in the number of students from poorer backgrounds being accepted in 2017, with a total of 4,150 gaining a spot.
However, young people in the most affluent areas are still 3.5 times more likely to enter higher education at the age of 18 than those from deprived backgrounds.
Overall figures showed the total number of students from Scotland getting a place at a Scottish university hit a new record high of 27,830 compared to this time last year.
The progress on access comes after the Scottish Government introduced targets to increase the proportion of students from the poorest 20 per cent of households to 20 per cent by 2030.
As part of this drive all Scottish universities have agreed to accept poorer students with lower exam grades in an attempt to boost working class undergraduates.
Education Secretary John Swinney said: “Our goal is that everyone with the natural talent and ability has the chance to go to university.
“These figures show that, year after year, we are making good progress in widening access, with the number of students from Scotland’s most deprived areas now up 20 per cent in just two years.
“What’s more, we have done this at the same time as the total number of students from Scotland from all backgrounds getting a place at a Scottish university has hit a record.”
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, said it was “highly encouraging” to see an increase in deprived students.
He said: “We are seeing consistent, sustainable progress being made, demonstrating how committed our institutions are to ensure access to university is fairer.
“We also recognise there is more work, both in this sector and societally, that can be done to ensure that people of all backgrounds can apply for university.”
John Kemp, interim chief executive of the Scottish Funding Council, added: “Although there is more work to be done, these figures indicate we are taking significant steps in the right direction.”
The increase was welcomed by Luke Humberstone, president of student body NUS Scotland.
He said: “These figures are a step in the right direction, but we are still a long way from achieving the ambitious targets.
“More progress is needed across the sector to ensure all universities are doing their best to ensure more students from the least well off backgrounds can access higher education.”
The Ucas figures also showed a continuing gender gap with the number of females attending university outstripping the number of males.
There were 11,140 men and 17,560 women from Scotland given a place at university in 2017 – a decrease of 220 and an increase of 620 respectively.
Uncertainty over the impact of Brexit has seen a fall of 480 in the number of EU students, with 3,370 securing a place.
Overall, UCAS confirmed 28,700 Scottish students have had their places in higher education confirmed, a one per cent increase from last year despite the population of 18-year-olds falling by two per cent.
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