Free university education in Scotland was meant to ensure that a degree was open to any residents, regardless of background, provided academic standards were met. On the face of it this is a hugely laudable idea, which was initially very well received. Reports of UK government plans to limit certain university degree courses of “low value” have again put higher education in the spotlight.
In Scotland that beam should be shone on a different issue: the number of students leaving to study elsewhere. There is evidence showing a small increase in Scottish-domiciled students but this is not in line with the overall increase in those choosing higher education across the UK.
