Almost half of Scottish adults (48%) would support the idea of charging university tuition fees based on the ability to pay, with funding focused on those who need it the most, according to a new report released today. Less than a third (29%) said they would not back such a move.

As discussions about the sustainability of Scotland’s universities continue, a report published by the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland highlights, for the first time in decades, the public’s attitudes to higher education funding in Scotland.

The report, based on polling by Ipsos UK, sought the public’s views on the value, accessibility and funding of higher education. Although it shows widespread support for some form of help with the cost of tuition fees, opinions are divided on the extent and scope, with 44% of the view that the Scottish Government should continue to support all first-time undergraduates, including those studying part-time, while 43% would prefer those whose households can afford it to pay at least some of their tuition fees.

Four in ten respondents (43%) agree 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. The cost of living was cited as the main impediment (72%).

The report suggests that the public’s interest in higher education is strongly linked to the benefits a university education can deliver in terms of skills development and employment.

When asked where the Scottish Government should prioritise post-school education funding, 61% of respondents backed apprenticeship places which allow young people to ‘earn while they learn’, 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.

The report comes at a time where the sustainability of the current funding model, which has been in place for nearly 18 years, has come under strain as universities face tough decisions to address financial deficits.

Following calls for more open debate on the issue, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland is now commissioning a Citizen Jury which will bring together a representative sample of people from Scotland to consider evidence on the subject of higher education funding and make recommendations.

Hannah Garrow, Chief Executive of the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland 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.”

The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland was established in 1901 to support individuals who faced financial barriers to access higher education. Before the government funded university tuition, the Trust supported nearly half of the people studying at Scottish universities. In 2024-25 the Trust is supporting over 300 people from low-income backgrounds and under-represented groups to access university, all of whom are currently ineligible for government support.

For more information, please contact:
Ian Morton, 07811 183633, ian.morton@campaigncollective.org
Heather Rogers, 07578 709680, heather.rogers@campaigncollective.org

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