A RECORD number of people from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds are accessing higher education in Scotland, official figures show.
According to statistics from the Scottish Funding Council (SFC), 4655 students from the 20% most deprived areas of the country attended university full-time in 2017/18 – up from 4195 the previous year. Meanwhile, 6200 students from the most deprived areas accessed a college higher education full-time course in 2017/18, whilst 14,830 accessed full-time college further education.
The report also highlights a rise in the number of women on courses at universities and colleges
and the number of Scottish students from a BME background. Further and Higher Education Minister Richard Lochhead (pictured right) said: “This report demonstrates that universities and colleges are making strong progress on widening access to higher education.”
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