New polling published today finds that Scots are overwhelming in favour of international students staying in the UK once they graduate rather than returning to their home country. 83% of Scots asked in a ComRes poll commissioned by Universities UK[1] agreed that when international students graduate from universities, it is better if they use their…
News
March
30
2017
Building from the Blueprint: Fair access one year on
Dr Kirsty Conlon is Head of Learning & Teaching and Widening Access at Universities Scotland. Kirsty is working with three Principals from across the sector to deliver universities’ response to the Blueprint for Fair Access, published in 2016. Kirsty writes: “March 2017 marks a year since the Blueprint for Fair Access was published by Dame…
March
29
2017
Statement on the day that Britain triggers Article 50 to leave the EU
Wednesday, 29 March 2017 will see the Prime Minister, Theresa May MP, trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty. This will signify the formal start of the two-year negotiation for the terms of Britain’s exit from the European Union. Responding to the official start of Brexit negotiations, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland, said: “On…
March
28
2017
Office space available at Universities Scotland
Universities Scotland is looking for an organisation to share our modern, well-serviced business premises. We are able to accommodate between 5-8 work desks with flexible options between cellular and open-plan accommodation. The office is 8-10 minutes’ walk from Waverley train station and 2 minutes from the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh’s Holyrood district. Edinburgh airport is 30-40…
March
24
2017
Universities Scotland welcome EU student status confirmation
The Scottish Government has confirmed today that EU nationals choosing to study in Scotland, enrolling in 2018-19 will not have their fees status changed during their courses. Commenting on the news, Alastair Sim, Director of Universities Scotland said: “Today’s announcement from the Deputy First Minister is both welcoming and assuring for the sector. Since Brexit,…
March
09
2017
“I am welcome to study, but not to work”: An international student’s reflection on being in the UK
Gisele Alves is two years into a PhD in Civil Engineering at Glasgow Caledonian University. Gisele is Brazilian and recently spoke about her reasons for choosing to study in Scotland, and the visa challenges facing her, at a Universities Scotland fringe event at the Scottish Conservatives Party Conference in early March. Gisele said: “When I was…
February
24
2017
Getting the self-belief to achieve anything. Access at the University of St Andrews
Lizzy Jenkins is a fourth-year student at the University of St Andrews. She’s from Kirkcaldy, Fife, and is studying Psychology. She went to St Andrews after taking part in various access programmes and is now a student ambassador for other prospective students from underrepresented backgrounds. Lizzy says: “I want to start of by saying a…
February
02
2017
Universities commit a full and fresh contribution to widening access as participation indicators published
The Scottish Funding Council has today (2 February) published data showing the number of young, full-time entrants to Scotland’s higher education institutions in 2015/16 by the most deprived areas of Scotland. The data show that 10.4 per cent of full-time entrants to Scotland’s universities, under the age of 21, were from the 20 per cent…
January
25
2017
Scotland’s universities welcome the world
Today (25 January), all 19 higher education institutions across Scotland have come together to back a new campaign to welcome students from around the world. Scotland’s universities are already home to over 180 different nationalities among their students and staff. The new, global campaign, ‘Scotland’s universities welcome the world’ celebrates that and the diversity and…
January
12
2017
Universities Scotland comment on latest HESA student figures
The latest figures for Higher education student enrolment and qualifications obtained at higher education providers in the United Kingdom 2015/16 have been released by HESA. The total number of enrolments at higher education institutes in Scotland was 235,565 in 2015/16, a 1% increase from 2014/15 for both undergraduate and postgraduate enrolment. The enrolment of UK…