To what extent universities rely on international students to help their financial stability, and what impact this has on admissions polici…

The Scottish Government welcomes the valuable contribution that international students make to our society, culture, and economy. Our commitment to Scotland's universities is demonstrated through our long-term commitment to Scotland’s universities, investing over £1 billion every year in the sector since 2012/13. This is continued in the 2025-26 budget which provides over £1.1bn of investment in teaching and research in Scotland’s universities.Universities are autonomous institutions, and the share of international student fee income compared to other income sources will differ between each institution. However, universities are responsible for their own admissions policies but should consider their long-term stability by actively diversifying their international student intake and seeking alternative funding sources. Neither international nor rUK students are able to access funded places which have been set aside for Scottish students.We need an immigration system that supports our higher education sector to deliver the best learning, research and student experience. That is why the Scottish Government announced proposals for a Scottish Graduate Visa
- to support a clear pathway for international students to build their careers in Scotland and contribute to our economy and wider society.