Scotland pulls ahead of target for disadvantaged students

Scottish universities increase share of students from the country’s most deprived areas

Scotland has almost hit its target to improve access to university two years ahead of schedule.

According to data published on 16 January from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (Hesa), in the 2018-19 academic year 15.9 per cent of first-year undergraduate students enrolling at Scotland’s universities came from the country’s most deprived areas. This is calculated using the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.