University tuition fees ‘may stop Scottish brain drain’
THE SNP should consider introducing tuition fees to stem the brain drain of young talent from Scotland, the head of Edinburgh University has said.
Prof Sir Peter Mathieson insisted allowing institutions to charge the wealthiest students would help create more places for ordinary Scots.
He warned that a lack of funding meant “talent and money” are heading south, with young people having to study in England or abroad instead.
Humza Yousaf, the SNP First Minister, immediately rejected his plea, insisting that “there will be no movement at all… in relation to free tuition”.
Home students are able to attend Scottish universities free of charge, with the number of places on offer capped by the government in Holyrood.
There is expected to be a shortfall of about 10,000 centrally funded spaces in the coming academic year, with demand far exceeding supply.
The lack of places meant that last year one law course at Edinburgh University was entirely filled by applicants from deprived backgrounds. As a result, Scots from wealthier families had to go elsewhere when they could have paid fees, creating extra spaces and helping fund the system.
Prof Sir Peter said it was time for the SNP to give “calm consideration” to allowing such students to pay.
Writing in The Herald, he said: “We are accused of denying opportunity to more traditional applicants. In a capped system, this is to some extent inevitable.
“We don’t seek to exclude any group. It is not the case that privately educated applicants won’t be able to secure a place at Edinburgh.
“How might things change? Last year, think tank Reform Scotland proposed that Scottish graduates earning more than the average salary could contribute towards their tuition fees, and potentially allowing government funding to be improved and/or the number cap to be raised.
“Also, wealthy families in Scotland can currently pay for their offspring to go to university in England or abroad but not in Scotland. Therefore talent and money are leaving Scotland.”