Is it getting impossible for Scottish kids to get into Scottish uni's

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Please tell me it isn't so. Hearing Strathclyde business school is 5A's in first sitting these days. What are your experiences? Don't know what to advise my child for their choices as the entry requirements seem so high.

It is 100% true. It was the subject of a freedom of information request.

@Prancingponytail sure. If you say so 👍🏻

A very well publicised case https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/01/12/snp-policies-have-closed-doors-average-pupils-getting-top-universities/

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-64247475

@Prancingponytail. Be reassured that Edinburgh has tweaked their widening access program. I believe issue happened in 2022 for a small number of courses where they promised offers but demand (and grades) were much higher than expected.
Last year they said "Our early view of 2023 entry indicates that we expect to admit Scotland-domiciled students from a range of backgrounds on all programmes."

My DD knows someone who didn't get a an Edinburgh law offer in 2022 despite all As. Got offers from Glasgow, Strathy, Dundee etc. Was a bit bothered at the time but when she heard only widening access offers made she understood. Its not as if her other options were 2nd rate.

Yes but it would be nice if it was her choice rather than a choice dictated by the SNP. An English student applying to those universities would have that choice, where as a Scottish student would not.

Not dictated by the SNP. Scottish universities are autonomous institutions and as such are responsible for their own admission policies and selection criteria. The Scottish Government and Scottish Ministers are unable to intervene. They provide separate funding for widening participation (who grudges levelling up?).

Anyway Edinburgh have already said that they envisage making offers to all types of applicants for all programs going forward. Thus non-widening access applicants shouldn't panic. Might be a bit more competitive for widening access applicants.

You’re wrong. The SNP controlled Scottish government gives the funding body an allocation of places, which is divided into the universities. The universities are restricted by this cap in the number of places they can offer to Scottish students. They make up the numbers (and their budgets) buy allocating places to rUK and overseas students. They have to due to the minimal amount of money they get per Scottish students. 40% of St Andrews students are overseas, 33% of the University of Edinburgh.

It’s not true that universities are autonomous, targets are set by the Scottish government which in turn drives admissions criteria, you just needed to look at how many courses there were in clearing this year that were only available to widening access participants. There are also caps on student numbers from Scotland, a consequence of the free tuition for Scottish students.