Universities Scotland is the representative body of Scotland's 19 higher education institutions. We develop policy on behalf of the university sector and campaign publicly on higher education issues.

Our Work

Universities are key to achieving economic growth; UK Government Industrial Strategy response

We have responded to the UK Government's consultation on the Industrial Strategy. The focus of the Strategy on eight growth-driving sectors aligns very strongly with our strengths in research, innovation and skills. Universities are essential to achieving the Strategy's aims.

Universities respond to Scottish Government budget for 2025/26

Our Director, Claire McPherson has responded to the Scottish Government's 2025/26 budget, setting out the overall resource budget for universities is not rising by 3.5% as the outcome represents a 0.7% real terms cut in HE resource.
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Recent News

Universities respond to Scottish Government budget for 2025/26

Responding to the Scottish Government’s settlement for university resource and capital budgets for 2025/26, Claire McPherson, Director of Universities Scotland has said: “The Scottish Government has responded to the sector’s request to re-direct £14million of existing spend, from covid-era student places, to increase the amount which can be spent on each student place. We welcome…

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Universities revise budget bid to Scottish Government upwards as there is no scope to absorb increased costs

We have taken the unprecedented step of increasing our 2025/26 budget ask of the Scottish Government. Since we submitted this in September, there have been two significant changes in our funding environment. Firstly, the announcement in the UK Government’s autumn budget that there would be an increase in employer National Insurance Contributions (ENIC) 2025/26. We have…

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Recent Posts

We've responded to the SG's budget for universities. There are some aspects in the settlement to welcome but overall it's a real-terms cut to our resource budget and falls well short of meeting our funding pressures. Read our full response here:

🆕🗣️Our Deputy Director (Policy) Lesley Jackson spoke at the @UUKevents Research and Innovation conference yesterday, discussing the multifaceted contribution our universities make to local and regional growth across Scotland. #UUKResearch

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