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…
Tag: scottish government
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…
University funding allocations for 2025/26 do not give the sector the financial support needed at a time when it has never been more necessary
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…
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…
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…
Scotland’s universities still have another budget to contend with
With the UK Government’s budget now delivered, November sees a frenzied month of activity for the Scottish Government as it crunches numbers ahead of its own budget for 2025/26, to be announced on 4 December, writes Universities Scotland Director Claire McPherson. Spare a thought for Scotland’s universities, facing the prospect of all that pre-budget speculation…
Post-school reform consultation on legislation response
We have submitted our response to the Scottish Government consultation on Post-16 school reform, which closed on Friday 20 September. The consultation considered change to the roles and responsibilities of three public bodies in the post-school landscape: the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS). In our response,…
Fair access to university: Commissioner’s report for 2024
Today the Commissioner for Fair Access, Professor John McKendrick has published his independent report Higher education – renewing the alliance for fair access. This is the sixth fair access report commissioned by the Scottish Government. Professor John McKendrick considers how the framework for promoting fair access can be strengthened with twenty recommendations to help achieve…