The number of 18-year-olds who secured a university place in Scotland reached a record high this year, according to the Scottish Government.
A total of 17,920 students aged 18 achieved the grades for the 2026 academic year, up from 17,350 last year. Acceptances across all ages stood at 32,370.
Deprived areas see biggest increase
Students from deprived areas saw a 7% increase, with 2,090 securing places, the highest on record for this stage in the cycle.
Education Secretary Mairi McAllan said: “I congratulate all of the applicants who have successfully secured a place at university.
“This is another set of incredibly positive results, showing the strength of Scotland’s education system with numbers of university acceptances growing and record numbers of 18-year-olds securing a place.
“It is particularly encouraging to see even more students from deprived areas going on to university.
“Scotland has some of the top-ranking universities in the world and our determination to widen access to higher education is giving thousands of young people from more deprived areas the opportunity to further their studies.”
Free tuition commitment
She added: “Access to university should always be based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay.
“The Scottish Government’s commitment to free tuition means that eligible learners from all backgrounds have the option of attending university.
“Of course this is just one route to a positive future for Scotland’s young people.
“We aim to create a balanced and inclusive system that accommodates diverse learner needs with a range of opportunities including college and modern apprenticeships.”
Some university positions are still available. Applicants can apply here.
