Warning more EU students could lose natives

A SCOTTISH university has issued a warning over the rise in the number of students from the European Union.

While stressing the threat had not yet materialised, Glasgow University said it was concerned the well-documented increase could lead to a decline in the number of Scottish students.

The rise is important because EU students compete for the same places as Scots and the estimated £80 million cost of educating them is the responsibility of the Scottish taxpayer.

In the last few years, the overall number of Scottish students in higher education has increased, but numbers have declined in some institutions because EU students tend to apply to the country’s most prestigious universities.

A statement from Glasgow University on its targets for 2015/16 stated: “Applications from Scottish domiciled students to study in the university remain healthy and have grown substantially from the EU since 2012/13.

“We have concerns that healthy application rates from EU students will begin to reduce the number of Scottish domiciled students.”

Three years ago the Scottish Government instructed all universities to increase the number of students from the poorest 40 per cent of communities.

A document setting out St Andrew’s University targets highlights an increase in the proportion of poorer students over the three years from 8.6 per cent to 13.5 per cent.

However, the document states: “Due to the unexpectedly high number of Scottish entrants in 2014/15, it is anticipated that the total number of Scottish-domiciled entrants will be significantly lower in 2015/16.”