Universities Scotland has responded to Scottish Funding Council’s consultation on the Report on Widening Access. Our submission can be summarised around three main points: Strong value placed on the RoWA, with calls for clarity and better usability. We emphasised that the Report on Widening Access is a trusted, sector wide dataset that institutions use extensively…
Briefings & Evidence
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Response to UCAS admissions consultation
Universities Scotland has responded to the UCAS 2026 admissions consultation, broadly welcoming the proposals and supporting continued stability in the undergraduate admissions system. Our response emphasises the value of retaining existing structures such as application choice numbers, firm and insurance offers, and key dates, alongside clearer information and guidance for applicants. It also highlights the…
ECYP Committee debate on widening access to higher education
Ahead of the Education, Children and Young People Committee debate on widening access to higher education Universities Scotland has produced a brief for MSPs highlighting the progress made on widening access, and responds to several of the recommendations from the report. We are grateful for the Committee’s inquiry into widening access following our 40 Faces…
Support for part-time and disabled students consultation response
We have submitted our response to the Scottish Government consultation on support for part time and disabled students, which closed on Thursday 9 October. The consultation has two sets of different questions: one set for students, prospective students, parents and carers and the other for providers. The consultation includes questions on topics such as; Whether support for…
Tertiary Education (Scotland) Bill, Stage 1 debate – Brief
Ahead of the stage 1 debate on the Tertiary Education and Training (Scotland) Bill (TET) this brief focuses on an opportunity regarding Graduate Apprenticeships, which could be realised from the Bill as it intends to make a transfer of powers between post-16 agencies. If delivered, this could support a more flexible and responsive skills option…
Response to the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill, stage 1 general principles consultation
We have submitted a response to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee regarding regarding Stage 1 general principles consultation on the Building Safety Levy (Scotland) Bill. The Bill looks to introduces a new tax, called the Scottish Building Safety Levy, to be charged on the construction or conversion of residential property developments, with…
Pre-budget scrutiny 2026/27: submission to the Finance and Public Administration committee
We have responded to the Scottish Parliament’s Finance and Public Administration Committee’s call for views on pre-budget scrutiny 2026/27, responding to the long term fiscal pressures. In our submission, we highlight the financial pressures that universities are facing, the benefits of further investment in universities and suggestions of actions and priorities for the Scottish Government…
Financial sustainability – a briefing for the Scottish Parliament’s Education Committee
Universities Scotland has been invited to give evidence to the Education, Children and Young People’s Committee on 4 June for a one-off session on the financial sustainability of the university sector. Our Director, Claire McPherson, will appear for US as part of a panel alongside three Principals. You can read our written submission here. Key…
Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill; call for views
Following a call for views from the Scottish Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People Committee, we have submitted our views on the Tertiary Education and Training (Funding and Governance) (Scotland) Bill. We have set out our support the Bill’s primary policy objective, as set out in the Policy Memorandum (para 7), to: “enable funding for…
Education (Scotland) Bill briefing to MSPs
We have written a briefing for MSPs regarding the Education (Scotland) Bill, which sets out our position and cause for concern on proposed amendments at stage two of the Bill. The Education (Scotland) Bill looks to establish a new body called Qualifications Scotland. It also looks to create a new office His Majesty’s Chief Inspector…