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| Record number of Scottish university students | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| A record number of Scottish students will start university this year, according to the latest figures. | A record number of Scottish students will start university this year, according to the latest figures. |
| A total of 22,292 Scottish students have received places so far, a 3% rise from 21,630 in 2011. | A total of 22,292 Scottish students have received places so far, a 3% rise from 21,630 in 2011. |
| About 3,000 applications are still being processed with more eligible for the clearing process. | About 3,000 applications are still being processed with more eligible for the clearing process. |
| The Scottish government said it defied criticism that some fee-paying students from England were being given places before their Scottish counterparts. | The Scottish government said it defied criticism that some fee-paying students from England were being given places before their Scottish counterparts. |
| Critics have said the process is "unfair" as the number of places for Scottish students is limited by funding at some universities. | Critics have said the process is "unfair" as the number of places for Scottish students is limited by funding at some universities. |
| EU loophole | EU loophole |
| Scottish and EU students are exempt from tuition fees at Scottish institutions. | Scottish and EU students are exempt from tuition fees at Scottish institutions. |
| However, a loophole in EU regulations means that students from the rest of UK have to pay to study in Scotland. | However, a loophole in EU regulations means that students from the rest of UK have to pay to study in Scotland. |
| Universities are given set funding for the admission of Scottish and EU students. | Universities are given set funding for the admission of Scottish and EU students. |
| Education Secretary Mike Russell told BBC Scotland: "There is an absolute line between those who go paid for by the Scottish government and those who regrettably are part of what is a deeply flawed system south of the border which will not succeed for the individuals and for the system. | Education Secretary Mike Russell told BBC Scotland: "There is an absolute line between those who go paid for by the Scottish government and those who regrettably are part of what is a deeply flawed system south of the border which will not succeed for the individuals and for the system. |
| "But there is no such competition and indeed the figures tell you that - 86% of places in Scottish universities are held by Scottish young people. | "But there is no such competition and indeed the figures tell you that - 86% of places in Scottish universities are held by Scottish young people. |
| "There's nobody being crowded out from that, quite the reverse." | "There's nobody being crowded out from that, quite the reverse." |
| A University of Edinburgh spokesman said: "The Scottish Funding Council allocates each university in Scotland a number of funded places for students from Scotland and the EU, and imposes financial penalties should institutions over-recruit against this number. | A University of Edinburgh spokesman said: "The Scottish Funding Council allocates each university in Scotland a number of funded places for students from Scotland and the EU, and imposes financial penalties should institutions over-recruit against this number. |
| "The University of Edinburgh intends to fill all of its allocated places for Scotland and EU students this year." | "The University of Edinburgh intends to fill all of its allocated places for Scotland and EU students this year." |
| UK figures | UK figures |
| Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) figures also show that Scotland is the only part of the UK which has seen a rise in university and college admissions. | Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) figures also show that Scotland is the only part of the UK which has seen a rise in university and college admissions. |
| A total of 35,781 pupils have been accepted to Scottish institutions to date, fractionally up by 244 on this time last year. | A total of 35,781 pupils have been accepted to Scottish institutions to date, fractionally up by 244 on this time last year. |
| Meanwhile, applications to institutions in the rest of the UK are down by almost 8%, from 349,112 at the same admission stage in 2011 to 322,134 this year. | Meanwhile, applications to institutions in the rest of the UK are down by almost 8%, from 349,112 at the same admission stage in 2011 to 322,134 this year. |
| Mr Russell added: "Scotland is the only country in the UK to ensure young people, our workforce of the future, can go to university based on ability, not the ability to pay." | Mr Russell added: "Scotland is the only country in the UK to ensure young people, our workforce of the future, can go to university based on ability, not the ability to pay." |