The Scottish Government has been urged to help international students manage the cost of quarantine hotels to ensure they can take their place at college or university.

Following a UK Government decision on contracts, the cost of a quarantine hotel will rise from £1,750 to £2,285.

The National Union of Students in Scotland have asked the Scottish Government to intervene. 

NUS Scotland president Matt Crilly said the decision was a “shameful attack on international students”, adding: “Students rightly feel let down and betrayed after already paying exorbitant fees, sky-high costs for accommodation in addition to visa costs, and healthcare charges.

“I am deeply concerned that this move will force many students to drop out of their studies. No student should be priced out of education as a result of quarantine charges.

“I ask the Scottish Government to urgently intervene to protect Scottish international students and scrap quarantine charges for those who are travelling for essential education purposes.”

People coming to Scotland from a red list country are forced to enter what the Scottish Government has called “managed isolation”. They must spend 10 days in a designated hotel in Glasgow, Edinburgh or Aberdeen.