A record number of students from deprived backgrounds enrolled in universities for the first time in 2020-21, new figures show - but some universities have yet to hit the individual university target of 10 per cent.
The number of Scottish students from deprived areas progressing to university hit 16.7 per cent in 2020-21, a new report on widening access shows. This is an increase from 16.4 per cent in 2019-20 and represents an additional 545 students.
Figures for 2021-22 will be published next year.
This means - as was also the case last year - the sector has achieved the Commission on Widening Access’ interim target of 16 per cent of all Scottish-domiciled full-time first-degree entrants being from the 20 per cent most deprived areas by 2021-22.
The report published yesterday by the Scottish Funding Council, however, shows that the proportion of students from the most deprived areas varies considerably between universities. And some institutions remain some distance from hitting the target that, by 2021, students from the 20 per cent most-deprived backgrounds should represent at least 10 per cent of full-time first-degree entrants to every individual Scottish university.
While almost 30 per cent of full-time first-degree entrants to the University of the West of Scotland were from the 20 per cent most deprived areas in 2020-21, for example, that figure was just 6.1 per cent for Aberdeen’s Robert Gordon University.
A further three universities have yet to hit the 10 per cent target: the University of Aberdeen (7.9 per cent); the University of the Highlands and Islands (8.6 per cent); and the University of Edinburgh (9.1 per cent).
The report also says that, while the pandemic “did not have any notable impact on student enrolment”, it did “impact on students who were studying at the time and their ability to complete their qualification as planned”.
For example, the report shows the number of Scottish students from the 20 per cent most-deprived areas successfully completing their first full-time degree has been rising since 2013-14. But in 2019-20 that number dropped and, although there was improvement in 2020-21, the figures were lower than in 2018-19.
The report says: “In spite of the challenges faced by the two sectors and their students, 58,475 Scottish-domiciled students successfully achieved an undergraduate higher education (HE) qualification in 2020-21 from Scotland’s colleges and universities. Other students who may initially have expected to graduate in 2019-20 or 2020-21, but were impacted by the pandemic, are instead expected to obtain their awards in future years.”
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic forced the government to cancel national exams and teachers were responsible for grading their pupils - after the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) moderation process was scrapped.
The pass rate was higher than in previous years - the Higher pass rate was 89 per cent in 2020, up from 75 per cent the previous year. This prompted the Scottish government to increase the number of places at university, with a total of 2,500 extra places provided and split over two years.
However, the Scottish Funding Council said that there is “no evidence that this caused the increase in the proportion of entrants from the 20 per cent most-deprived areas reported in today’s figures”.
A spokesperson added: “The increase is part of an upward trend that reflects the progress towards fairer access to higher education following the recommendations of the Commission on Widening Access in 2016.”
The figures also show there has been an increase in the number of students who are care-experienced or from a deprived background returning for their second year.
Of the 2019-20 entrants from the 20 per cent most-deprived areas, 90.2 per cent returned to study in second year. This is higher than the previous year’s figure of 87.5 per cent.
Care-experienced students had a retention rate of 91 per cent; the previous year, retention was 87 per cent.
Higher education minister Jamie Hepburn said: “By 2030, we want 20 per cent of students entering higher education to come from Scotland’s most-deprived backgrounds.
“These statistics show another step towards that, with a record number of Scottish students from deprived areas enrolling in university for the first time. This highlights the fact that Scotland continues to be an attractive place to study and live for prospective students.”
He added: “The Commissioner for Fair Access has previously said that Scotland is ‘setting the pace’ in the UK in widening participation. We believe every young person should have the opportunity to reach their full potential, no matter their circumstances.”
