We welcome the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Parliament’s Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee regarding Petition2009: Ensure fair access to Scottish universities for all residents in Scotland and the UK.

Universities Scotland believe that in aggregate across the sector, there are sufficient university places available to meet the aspirations of suitably qualified Scots-domiciled undergraduate learners. However, we recognise the acute pressures on some high-demand courses in some institutions which are especially popular with applicants, and we understand the disappointment when applicants are not successful in being accepted to their chosen course.

Our response focuses on five key areas to showcase the different aspects of the admissions process at Scottish universities:

• Numbers of Scots-domiciled undergraduates accepted into Scottish universities remains high and stable
• Applicant trends
• Commitment to fair access
• Funding model
• student places and “displacement”