The proportion of people studying for their first degree who come from the most deprived parts of Scotland has risen to the second highest level on record, figures reveal, but analysis suggests some top universities are going backwards on widening access.

A shows that 5,445 full-time first-degree students at Scottish universities in 2023-24 were from the 20 per cent most deprived areas in the nation.

This was 16.7 per cent of the total student population ¨C up slightly from 16.3 per cent the previous year and the second highest level since comparable records began.

The Scottish government has a stated ambition of trying to raise this metric to 20 per cent by 2030.

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After a few years of ¡°flatlining¡±,?the report suggests there has been an improvement across the sector. The number of Scottish students from the most deprived areas entering university on full-time first-degree courses is up 37 per cent since the government established the Commission on Widening Access in 2015.

Graeme Dey, minister for higher and further education, said the findings are a ¡°testament to the great work being done¡± by both universities and colleges to improve access.

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¡°However, there is more to do to meet the goal of 20 per cent of all entrants being from the 20 per cent most deprived communities by 2030,¡± he added.

The figures show that almost 40 per cent of the country¡¯s total number of students from deprived areas attend just two institutions ¨C Glasgow Caledonian University and the University of the West of Scotland (UWS).

A record 31.4 per cent of all full-time first-degree students at UWS came from the 20 per cent most deprived areas last year. This was the highest proportion among all large institutions, followed by Glasgow Caledonian (22.8 per cent) and the University of Strathclyde (20.5 per cent).

But others have not been as successful. Just 6.5 per cent of University of Aberdeen students are from the most deprived areas ¨C its lowest rate for five years.

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Five other universities saw falling proportions, including the University of Edinburgh (10.6 per cent down from 13.1 per cent last year) and the University of St Andrews (12.5 per cent down from 12.9 per cent).?

¡°I will continue to work constructively with the sector to create more opportunities for people from the poorest backgrounds to go to university and gain qualifications which will help in our mission to eradicate child poverty,¡± said Dey.

¡°Our continued pledge to keep tuition fees free is also ensuring that access to higher education is based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay.¡±

The figures also revealed there were 620 (1.9 per cent) full-time first degree entrants with experience of care in 2023-24 ¨C up from 1.8 per cent and a record high.

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patrick.jack@timeshighereducation.com