Sir Anton Muscatelli, the long-serving Principal of the University of Glasgow, has called for a significant review of the Scottish higher education system. After 16 years at the helm, Muscatelli’s remarks come amid increasing concerns regarding funding structures and student demographics in Scotland’s universities.
The Scottish higher education landscape has changed radically over the last twenty years. Since the 2006-07 academic year the number of expatriate out of state students has almost doubled, and is particularly dramatic at Scottish universities. It bounced from 24,200 to a high of 47,700 in 2022-23 before recently retreating. Scotland’s increasing attractiveness as an educational destination can be seen in the rapid growth of international enrollment. This trend poses critical questions regarding the sustainability of funding and other resources.
The ongoing financial pressures on Scottish universities have been publicly highlighted in recent weeks. Dundee University has needed a Scottish government rescue of more than £40 million just to stay afloat. This financial strain is symptomatic of a larger issue: Scottish universities rely on government funding that is allocated based on the number of Scottish students they enroll each year.
Muscatelli underscored the current crisis to address our outdated funding structure. In turn, this allows Scottish universities to provide a world-class education whilst protecting their quality. He emphasized the necessity of a strategic plan, stating, “It really is imperative that we don’t stumble from year to year [but] think about how this is going to be shaped or resourced.”
The federal funding model has disproportionately affected the amount of funding awarded for different fields of study. According to Professor Bell, funding for critical areas such as veterinary studies, law, social work, media studies, drama, architecture, and others must be increased by at least 70% to meet the actual costs associated with educating students in these disciplines. To give just one example, last year the Scottish government funded £19,580 per student for dentistry programmes…
Yet the fiscal impact on students is drastically different depending on whether students are residents or not. Scottish students benefit from not having to pay tuition fees. Students from the rest of the UK will incur a tuition fee of £9,535 for the new academic year, an increase of 3.1% on the previous year. Demographic shifts in student population. Glasgow University says that just 66% of its students are from Scotland, and a further 15% are from the rest of the UK. Prestigious institutions like Edinburgh and St Andrews have almost equal representation from students hailing from England, Wales, and Northern Ireland as they do from Scotland.
These trends point to an increasing dependence on students from beyond the borders of Scotland. Foreign students can pay much more, up to nearly three times the cost for UK students. This inequity is a huge issue regarding the affordability and accessibility of education. The average student graduating from a Scottish university in 2023 carries a debt of £15,430 compared to £44,940 for their peers in the rest of the UK.
Iain Gillespie, head of the education division at the Scottish Government, has visibly backed Muscatelli’s wish. He calls for a complete re-evaluation of Scotland’s higher education landscape. He stated, “We need a strategic plan as a country, which is why I suspect after 2026, there will need to be a look at the shape and size of the Scottish [university] sector.” Gillespie further articulated his hope that any changes would be approached rationally and focused on identifying what kind of educational sector Scotland requires in the future.
The conversation surrounding these issues is crucial as higher education institutions navigate an uncertain financial landscape while striving to maintain educational standards and accessibility for all students. Whatever happens next, stakeholders should come to the table in good faith. Beyond this, they need to create a multifaceted, long-term vision that addresses today’s problems and tomorrow’s prospects.
