A RENOWNED university has closed its clearing process to Scottish students in a move which has been branded "desperately unfair" and "frustrating".
Heriot-Watt University, in Edinburgh, said it is in the "strong position" of having filled all of its Scottish Government-funded places, the Scotsman reports.
Clearing is used by applicants who either missed their offer, received no offers, applied late or who change their mind about their chosen course.
The Scottish Government caps the number of places available to Scottish students in universities north of the Border, due to the free university tuition model. These are funded by the Scottish Government through the Scottish Funding Council.
Universities are penalised financially if they take in more than their allocated number of Scottish students.
According to the Scotsman, Scottish students tend to rely less on clearing than their English peers because they achieve Higher grades in fifth year, which differs from the A level system in England.
A record 17,675 Scottish 18-year-olds secured a place at a Scottish university last year, increasing by 2.6% from 2024.
A Heriot-Watt spokesperson said: “We are delighted to be in the strong position of having filled all our Scottish government funded places for Scottish students.
“This reflects the strength and appeal of our portfolio in the Scottish market.”
Scottish LibDem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton, who is the MSP for Edinburgh North Western, near where the university is located, said the decision from Heriot-Watt is "frustrating for my constituents" who are seeing that "nearby places are available through clearing to anyone but them".
He told the Scotsman: “There will be Scottish kids who narrowly miss out on the grades for their top options, or who've changed their mind on what or where they want to study, that will now find themselves shut out of university.
“It feels desperately unfair.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Tory deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “Increasingly, we’re seeing Scottish applicants miss out because universities are taking students from elsewhere – and that’s unfair.
“SNP ministers must work with universities to ensure Scottish students can access the places they deserve.”
Heriot-Watt University was founded in 1821, making it one of the oldest higher education institutions in the UK.
It is routinely ranked among the top five universities in Scotland and is recognised for its high employment rates and strengths in engineering, computer science and business.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said that higher education is a "key priority" and it is "resolute" in protecting free tuition.
He added: “Alongside Universities Scotland, we are taking forward the far-reaching and ambitious Future Framework, a major sector-wide review that will reinforce university sustainability and success going into the future.”
A Universities Scotland spokesperson said: “Students awaiting their results should also remember that clearing is just one of a number of options available after results day, with opportunities to secure places through direct engagement with universities, as well as pathways into further education and other routes that can still lead to degree-level study.”
