RECORD numbers of students from Scotland's poorest backgrounds have secured a place at university, new figures show.
According to official statistics, 15.6 per cent of entrants to Scottish universities in 2017/18 were from the most deprived areas.
The Scottish Government has set a target for the sector of having 16 per cent by 2021 and 20 per cent by 2030.
Last year also saw an increase in the total number of Scottish students enrolling in Scottish universities.
The Scottish Government welcomed the figures, published by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
Richard Lochhead, the Higher Education Minister said: "These statistics highlight the good progress being made on widening access to higher education.
"I'm pleased to see more Scots going to university here and a record increase in entrants from our most deprived areas.
"Combined with other recent statistics this shows demonstrable progress towards giving every young person in Scotland an equal chance of success, no matter their background or circumstance."
Professor Sir Peter Scott, the Commissioner for Fair Access, also welcomed the increase - after three years of stagnant progress - arguing that it proved the worth of setting institutional targets.
He said: "Opinions are mixed about targets in general ... but these targets are proving their worth.
"The gap in school attainment remains a challenge and students from more deprived areas are still over-concentrated in particular institutions, but there is no harm celebrating hopeful social progress."
Alastair Sim, director of sector body Universities Scotland, said institutions had accelerated work on widening access which was now delivering results.
He added: "A 20 per cent over five years in students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds is proof that we are a sector that lives up to its values.
"In addition to our success on widening access, it’s welcome to see an increase in enrolments at all age groups as well as rises in the number of students enrolling who disclose a disability and from a minority ethnic background."
The figures also show that total Scottish student entrants at both undergraduate and postgraduate level increased by 3.2 per cent to 104,520.
Students from the EU and overseas increased by 1.7 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively.
Following the establishment of a Commission on Widening Access, a target was set that, by 2021, 16 per cent of students entering university will be from Scotland’s most deprived backgrounds, increasing to 20 per cent by 2030.
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