SNP has slashed free university spots – another disappointment for students.
Humza Yousef’s administration has cut 1,200 free university spots that were previously provided to Scottish students, creating even greater competition for places and forcing Scottish students to leave the country to get a degree. The overall government budget for tertiary education is also being cut by over £100 million this year.
People are generally never overwhelmingly happy about government spending cuts. However, this recent cut of free university positions only one element of a much greater issue that the importance of university education for politicians is seeming to be in decline. As a University of Edinburgh student who just this past year has witnessed ever-rising housing and living costs, a call for the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation due to seemingly very poor management and continuing strike action I find myself asking: why does no-one care about university students anymore? And is there any hope for improvement?
This SNP spending cut doesn’t come as a shock, but more as another disappointing decline in support for students as the challenges just seem to grow. It’s an interesting time to discuss this topic as funding per student from the Scottish Government has decreased by 19% in real terms over the past decade. The fact that student loans are also more expensive, and the cost-of-living crisis continues to worsen means these figures surely should be increasing. Furthermore, this year marks a decade since The Student published an article, “Thumbs down for Edinburgh student satisfaction” detailing record low student satisfaction rates. This figure has rested at a steadily low rate as Edinburgh currently ranks at 121st out of 130 Universities in the UK for student satisfaction, according to the Complete University Guide.
With government support declining, the current trend of marketisation of university education will surely only increase. The SNP is seemingly happy to sacrifice their own students in the name of short-term fee gain from internationals. As there has been a 56% increase in Scottish applicants to Scottish Universities over the past 15 years, this has been met with an 84% increase in their refused entry. These trends are clear: the Scottish Government and universities alike are sacrificing people for profit, no doubt leading to the consistently low student satisfaction rates.
It seems we are coming worryingly close to a point of no return; a bleak future where Scottish students have no place in their own country and where there is next-to-no financial support. Scottish Universities and the SNP will have to revise their strategies or face a potential future of no Scottish talent.
“McEwan Hall, Bristo Square, University of Edinburgh” by dun_deagh is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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Further University Cuts Fund Disappointment
SNP has slashed free university spots – another disappointment for students.
Humza Yousef’s administration has cut 1,200 free university spots that were previously provided to Scottish students, creating even greater competition for places and forcing Scottish students to leave the country to get a degree. The overall government budget for tertiary education is also being cut by over £100 million this year.
People are generally never overwhelmingly happy about government spending cuts. However, this recent cut of free university positions only one element of a much greater issue that the importance of university education for politicians is seeming to be in decline. As a University of Edinburgh student who just this past year has witnessed ever-rising housing and living costs, a call for the Vice-Chancellor’s resignation due to seemingly very poor management and continuing strike action I find myself asking: why does no-one care about university students anymore? And is there any hope for improvement?
This SNP spending cut doesn’t come as a shock, but more as another disappointing decline in support for students as the challenges just seem to grow. It’s an interesting time to discuss this topic as funding per student from the Scottish Government has decreased by 19% in real terms over the past decade. The fact that student loans are also more expensive, and the cost-of-living crisis continues to worsen means these figures surely should be increasing. Furthermore, this year marks a decade since The Student published an article, “Thumbs down for Edinburgh student satisfaction” detailing record low student satisfaction rates. This figure has rested at a steadily low rate as Edinburgh currently ranks at 121st out of 130 Universities in the UK for student satisfaction, according to the Complete University Guide.
With government support declining, the current trend of marketisation of university education will surely only increase. The SNP is seemingly happy to sacrifice their own students in the name of short-term fee gain from internationals. As there has been a 56% increase in Scottish applicants to Scottish Universities over the past 15 years, this has been met with an 84% increase in their refused entry. These trends are clear: the Scottish Government and universities alike are sacrificing people for profit, no doubt leading to the consistently low student satisfaction rates.
It seems we are coming worryingly close to a point of no return; a bleak future where Scottish students have no place in their own country and where there is next-to-no financial support. Scottish Universities and the SNP will have to revise their strategies or face a potential future of no Scottish talent.
“McEwan Hall, Bristo Square, University of Edinburgh” by dun_deagh is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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