EU student applications lay bare the extent of inequalities in SNP fees policy

UCAS has today published data showing the number of applications to Scottish universities. Applications from England and Wales have dropped by 5% and 15% respectively from last year, while applications from EU countries have risen by 6%.

The Scottish Conservatives warned that charging students from around the UK high fees to study here, while Scottish domicile and EU students pay nothing, would lead to a fall in numbers.

This is further evidence of the Education Secretary's mismanagement of Scotland's universities.

Scottish Conservative Education Spokesperson, Liz Smith MSP said:

"These figures lay bare the true extent of the inherent inequalities of the SNP's policy on fees. A huge increase in students from the European Union has seen a coinciding fall in the number of students applying from the rest of the UK. At a time when budgets are tight, the Scottish Government is duty bound to explain to taxpayers why they are being asked to foot the bill for the tuition fees of foreign nationals.

"I sympathise with those students from the rest of the UK, many of whom feel that they are being financially penalised, because they are being asked to pay annual fees of up to £9,000 to subsidise students from other countries.

"The Scottish Government's plans are ill-thought out and a calculated measure. They have done little to address the long-term funding pressures faced by the higher education sector in Scotland while also discouraging students from studying in Scotland.

"It is an unfair policy and something that clearly needs to be reworked. If something is not done soon it risks further damage to our universities and alienating students from the rest of the UK even more."

http://ucas.com/about_us/media_enquiries/media_releases/2012/20120130

Please note, the number people based in Scotland applying to universities here has gone down by 1.1%, while the number of non-EU students has increased by 24 per cent.

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