MORE Scottish teenagers are heading for university this year while numbers of older students and people from the EU have dropped.
Official figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) also show an increase in disadvantaged students in the UK overall, with the entry rate going up by 0.8 percentage points to 19.6 per cent.
The rate for the most advantaged students has also risen, going up 0.7 percentage points to 46 per cent.
Helen Thorne of Ucas said: “Progress is being made in increasing the participation of 18-year-olds across all social groups and we have seen the largest rise in acceptances among those living in the most disadvantaged areas of the UK.
“Although there is still much more to do, the efforts being made by schools, colleges and universities to encourage and support applications from more disadvantaged students are having an impact.”
One in four Scottish 18-year-olds has been accepted on to a degree course through Ucas this year, compared with one in three in England. The entry rate for the former is up 0.7 percentage points to 25.5 per cent and the latter by 0.8 percentage points to 33.3 per cent.
The figures show a two per cent drop in the number of EU students, with 29,850 placed on courses in the UK this year.
Overall, 505,680 applicants have gained entry to full-time degree courses at UK universities, one per cent lower than the number at the same point last year.
The figures show that there are fewer students in general from Wales, Northern Ireland, England, and the EU, while the numbers from Scotland and countries outside the EU have increased, compared with last year.
“Demand for university places remains strong, including from under-represented groups,” said Chris Hale, director of policy at Universities UK. “Again this year, the proportion of 18-year-olds in the UK applying for university is at its highest-ever level.
“There were a variety of reasons behind the drop in overall applications this year, including changes to funding for degrees in nursing, and the possible impact of the vote to leave the EU.”
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