'Nearly half of Scots open to charging tuition fees based on ability to pay’

Almost half of Scottish adults would support the idea of charging university tuition fees based on the ability to pay with funding focused on those who need it most, according to a report.

The report, published by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland and based on polling by Ipsos UK, sought the public’s views on the value, accessibility and funding of higher education.

The authors said it showed widespread support for some form of help with the cost of tuition fees, but opinions were divided on the extent and scope of the kind of help offered.

Out of the 1,057 people over the age of 18 interviewed, 44% expressed the view the Scottish Government should continue to support all first-time undergraduates, while 43% said they would prefer those whose households could afford it to pay at least some of their tuition fees.

Four in 10 respondents (43%) agreed that too many people in Scotland continue to face barriers to going to university, with those from low-income households (65%) and disadvantaged backgrounds (55%) considered most likely to experience barriers.

Asked where the Scottish Government should prioritise post-school education funding, 61% of respondents backed apprenticeship places, followed by grants or bursaries for low-income and disadvantaged students to cover the cost of living (50%).

Upskilling and retraining for adults on low incomes and supporting people who face barriers to university were prioritised by 43% and 29% respectively, while just over a quarter (26%) felt that funding all first-time undergraduate tuition fees should be a priority.

Overall, the report found almost half of Scottish adults (46%) supported the idea of charging university tuition fees based on the ability to pay, and less than a third (29%) said they would not back such a move.

The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, which was established in 1901 to support individuals who faced financial barriers to access higher education, is now commissioning a Citizen Jury to consider evidence on the subject of higher education funding and make recommendations.

It comes at a time when universities are facing funding pressures, linked in part to falling numbers of overseas students.

Meanwhile the Scottish Government insists it will not move away from its commitment for university tuition to remain free for Scottish students.

Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland chief executive Hannah Garrow said: “We know how complex the higher education funding system is and how much rides on it.

“However, recent discussions on how to finance higher education feel like they are stuck on repeat, while for many people funding continues to be seen as a barrier to access.

“This research shows that there is room for a more nuanced and open discussion on priorities for funding.

“If politicians are struggling to come up with solutions, perhaps the public can inject some democratic innovation into the debate.

“The government has already committed to lead the development of a new funding model, so understanding the views of the public as beneficiaries and users of the system is critical.

“We hope that the Scottish Government and all political parties in Scotland will get behind our Citizen Jury and commit to giving its outcomes careful consideration.”