Recent events in England have created an issue for Scottish higher education. While in Scotland the principle of free access to universities is an accepted part of public policy, English higher education institutions can now charge tuition fees of up to £9,000, and most have chosen to set fees at or near that level.

If no steps were taken in Scotland in response to this development, student places in Scottish universities would come under pressure from demand from south of the border and would create significant problems for Scottish students.

Today the Scottish Government has taken a significant step towards addressing this concern. The Cabinet Secretary’s announcement that students from the rest of the UK will be charged up to £9k to study at Scottish universities will protect student places while allowing the institutions to recruit students from the rest of the UK in a sensible manner. While this is a difficult decision, it is the right one and I welcome the announcement by the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Mr Michael Russell, MSP.

In England there has been a rush by the majority of universities to charge the full permitted £9,000 tuition fee.  I personally doubt that, in relation to fees for rest-of-UK students, this will be reflected across all Scottish universities. Indeed, at Robert Gordon University I anticipate fees being set substantially below this maximum level.  At this stage no decision has been made but we will ensure that in setting this fee we apply principles of equity and financial sustainability.

There is no doubt that challenges lie ahead for higher education in Scotland but we should welcome the positive steps that the Cabinet Secretary has announced today.

Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski
Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Robert Gordon University

 

See also
Blog by Prof Petra Wend, Principal, Queen Margaret University

Blog by Prof Seamus McDaid, Principal, University of the West of Scotland

Further information about the Education Secretary’s statement