The Scottish Funding Council has today (Thursday, 4 April) published its funding allocations for universities for academic year 2025/26. This follows the Scottish Government’s budget settlement for universities as announced in December. The allocations set out teaching funding for Scottish undergraduates, research and innovation funding and other, smaller grants. Total teaching funding allocated to universities…
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University of the West of Scotland Principal, Professor James Miller FRSE, is elected Universities Scotland’s next Convener
The next Convener of Universities Scotland, the representative organisation for Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions, will be Professor James Miller FRSE who will take up the role for a period of two years, from 1 August 2025. Professor Miller is Principal & Vice-Chancellor at the University of the West of Scotland and is elected to…
New student data from HESA shows sudden, sharp falls in international students coming to Scotland’s universities
New data on university students out today for academic year 2023/24 confirms the fall in international numbers as experienced by universities across Scotland and the UK. In total, the number of international (non-EU) students coming to Scotland in 2023/24, compared to the previous year, dropped by just short of 10,000 (9,380). The sharpest fall amongst…
Retaining talent in Scotland: First Minister’s migration aspirations
In a speech in Glasgow today (Wednesday, 22 January) First Minister John Swinney spoke to his aspiration to work with the UK Government to develop migration policy that would help to support Scotland’s future workforce and population needs, thereby boosting economic prosperity. The outline policy proposal sees Scotland-specific dimensions to the retention of highly skilled…
AI opportunities action plan: responding to the UK Government launch
The UK Government has today launched its AI opportunities action plan following the commission of the Clifford Review. The Government has accepted all 50 recommendations from the Review. Responding to the UK Government’s announcement of the AI Opportunities Action Plan on Monday 13 January, Claire McPherson, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Scottish universities are at the…
Sir Paul Grice confirmed as Interim Convener
Following Professor Gillespie’s decision to step down as Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Dundee last week, it has been confirmed that Sir Paul Grice will serve as Interim Convener. Confirming the news, Claire McPherson, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Sir Paul Grice has kindly agreed to serve as Universities Scotland’s Interim Convener,…
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…
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…
Academic year 2025/26: an increase in tuition fees and maintenance loans in England
On Monday 4 November, the Secretary of State for Education Bridget Phillipson announced that tuition fees in England would increase by 3.1% from £9,250 to £9,535 in academic year 2025/26 and there will be an increase in maintenance loans, in line with inflation. Responding to this announcement, a spokesperson from Universities Scotland has said; “England…
Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review method: QAA consultation
Universities Scotland’s Learning & Teaching Committee wrote a letter to QAA relating to QAA Scotland’s consultation on the Tertiary Quality Enhancement Review (TQER) method. This letter is a collective high-level response has been shared with QAA. Many institutions will also be responding directly with more detailed responses to the questions. The LTC response covers a…