Scots pupils lose out on university places to make way for fee-paying students

By MICHAEL BLACKLEY, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 20:33, 13 July 2026 | Updated: 20:33, 13 July 2026 Scots pupils are being turned away from last-minute places at university in favour of people from other parts of the UK or abroad who pay tuition fees. Six Scottish universities have announced that they have either no places or a severely limited number of places available to applicants from Scotland during this year’s Clearing process. It means that those who look to secure places for the coming academic year when they receive their exam results next month may struggle to find any – even though they are still available to those from elsewhere who have to pay tuition fees. It has led to renewed calls for an overhaul of Scotland’s ‘broken’ university funding model. Heriot-Watt University and Glasgow School of Art have both confirmed they have no places available during Clearing for Scottish students, while Strathclyde has just one course available, Glasgow Caledonian only has selected nursing courses, Stirling has only two courses available and Glasgow University has only five courses available, including three at its Dumfries campus. Scottish Conservative education spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: ‘SNP ministers must accept that their university funding model is broken when so many Scottish students look set to miss out on life-changing opportunities. ‘Those waiting on exam results will now be even more anxious given the situation at so many universities up and down the country. ‘Ministers cannot keep burying their heads in the sand about this escalating crisis and recognise it is deeply unfair for talented Scottish students. They shouldn’t be missing out due to the failures of SNP ministers, who must now work urgently with universities to ensure applicants get the access they deserve.’ In an update for those seeking places during Clearing, Heriot-Watt University said: ‘Please note, this year, we are closed to all Scottish applicants for all programmes’. Scottish students are being turned away from some University courses  Glasgow School of Art have confirmed they have no places available during Clearing for Scottish students Glasgow School of Art’s website contains information on how people in the rest of the UK and international students can apply through Clearing but states ‘no places available’ for ‘home’ students. Strathclyde University states that it ‘does not have any Clearing vacancies on our undergraduate programmes for Scottish students for 2026 entry’ apart from on a BSc Prosthetics and Orthotics course, while Stirling University says: ‘As a result of high demand for our courses, we only have Clearing places available for students from Scotland on: adult and mental health nursing courses; Professional Graduate Diploma in Education Secondary Education: Chemistry with Science / Physics with Science’. Glasgow University lists only courses in primary education and nursing at its main campus, as well as three courses at its Dumfries campus in environmental science, global sustainable development and primary education. Heriot-Watt University are also closed to Scottish applicants through Clearing University of Strathclyde also states that it does not have any Clearing vacancies on their undergraduate programmes for Scottish students for 2026 entry apart from on a BSc Prosthetics and Orthotics course Glasgow Caledonian University says: ‘If you’re a Scottish student, please note that only selected nursing courses are available through Clearing this year.’ University tuition is free to Scottish students but those in the rest of the UK have to pay fees of £9,535 a year, rising to up to £40,000 a year for international students. The Scottish Government pays universities for the cost of Scottish students through the Scottish Funding Council, but many universities have already taken on their funded student quota for the coming financial year prior to the Clearing process. Some additional courses could potentially open up through Clearing after exam results day next month. A Universities Scotland spokesman said: ‘Whilst Clearing is an important route into university for some, Scottish students have not relied on it to the same extent as applicants from the rest of the UK. ‘Scots generally apply to university having already achieved qualifications at the end of S5, meaning they are less reliant on predicted grades, and the clearing system. ‘With a capped model for places in Scotland many institutions have already filled the places they have available to Scottish students long before the clearing process, and universities cannot recruit above that number. As nerves start to build ahead of results day, it’s important to remember that university places for Scottish students are protected, and places available to students from the rest of the UK sit entirely separately to that, there is no displacement of Scottish students through Clearing.’ Glasgow Caledonian University said: ‘We have had very strong demand from Scottish domiciled applicants, and we expect to fill our overall Scottish Funding Council student places.’ A spokesman for the University of Stirling said places are in ‘high demand’ from students in Scotland, the rest of the UK and overseas, and added: ‘The Scottish Funding Council sets a cap on the number of Scottish students that can undertake undergraduate study at all Scottish institutions and the University of Stirling fills its allocated Scottish places every year.’ A spokesman for Heriot-Watt University said: ‘We are fortunate to be in the strong position of having filled all our Scottish Government funded places for Scottish students. This reflects the strength and appeal of our portfolio in the Scottish market.’ A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘Higher education is a key priority for this Government. Universal free access to education is vital to support young people reaching their full potential, which is why we are resolute in our commitment to protect free tuition. ‘There is no evidence that there are not enough places available for Scottish students at Scottish institutions. It is not possible for new students from the rest of the UK, nor international students, to access funded places which have been set aside for eligible Scottish students. ‘Alongside Universities Scotland, we are taking forward the far-reaching and ambitious Future Framework, a major sector-wide review that will reinforce university sustainability and success going into the future.’