Our Universities in Support of Scotland

A manifesto for the 2026 Scottish election

The policy and funding choices made in the next Scottish Parliament will not only determine the country’s immediate trajectory but will also shape the social, economic and civic fabric of Scotland for decades to come.

Our biggest ask of all political parties in this election is to engage with and support the Framework for Sustainable and Successful Universities. Launched in December 2025 as a joint exercise between Universities Scotland and the Scottish Government, and tasked with securing the future of universities to 2045, it commands cross-party buy-in. The need has never been greater, with 11 universities forecast to be in deficit.

We ask for meaningful engagement with the Framework’s outputs, expected in the autumn, and continued cross-party support for the development of an implementation plan within a year.

The Framework is the foundation stone upon which the sector’s wider contribution to Scotland depends. Our manifesto is structured around actions that would improve the lives of our students, the enabling role of the sector in support of economic growth, through skills development, research and innovation, and through our partnerships with the NHS.