Scottish Government must reconsider free tuition, declares think tank

The future of the Scottish Government’s flagship free university tuition policy has been called into question by a Scottish think tank.

In a report published on 11 April by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), Reform Scotland argued that there was a need for a commission to examine whether the current undergraduate funding framework is the best system for students.

Currently, tuition fees for Scottish universities are paid directly by the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS). This means that students studying in Scotland have no tuition fees to pay themselves.

Reform Scotland has now suggested this should be reconsidered. It highlighted that the limit on the number of paid places the Scottish Government can offer has led to a number of Scottish students missing out, compared to those from elsewhere in the UK.

Though free tuition has led to a 56% increase in domestic applications […] it has simultaneously seen an 84% increase in rejections

Though free tuition has led to a 56% increase in domestic applications since 2006, the report says, it has simultaneously seen an 84% increase in rejections from Scottish universities.

The report goes on to suggest that, as a result, Scottish students may be encouraged to look outside of Scotland for their higher education. These students would have to pay tuition fees – a setback for their personal finances as they incur substantial debt as a result.

The think tank further warned of a risk to the Scottish economy if students chose to remain outside of Scotland after university, leading to a decline in skilled workers in the country.

Considering this, Reform Scotland’s recommendation was to establish a commission that could consider alternative funding strategies.

Alison Payne, Research Director of Reform Scotland, said that the current system in Scotland was “unfair and unsustainable”.

She said: “More people want to go to university, but the fiscal arrangement is holding ambition back.”

Payne argued for a “better balance” between individual graduates and the taxpayer, proposing that graduates could pay a ‘graduate contribution’ after earning more than the average Scottish salary.

She further added that this could incentivise skilled workers to remain in Scotland, by providing schemes to cut or cancel debt payments for certain sector workers.

I’m absolutely committed to ensuring we have free education. University education should be on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.

Humza Yousaf, Scottish First Minister

The proposals have been firmly rebuffed by the Scottish Government. A spokesperson told The Herald that: “The Scottish Government is resolute in its commitment to free tuition.

“The latest data shows since this policy was put in place, the number of Scottish students entering university has increased by 31%.”

Humza Yousaf, First Minister of Scotland, told the BBC last year that he was “absolutely committed to ensuring we have free education. University education should be on the ability to learn, not the ability to pay.”

It seems unlikely that the undergraduate funding system in Scotland will be changing in the immediate future.