Widening access to higher education inquiry

PDF Published: Thursday 15 May 2025 (ECYP/S6/25/05)

Expand
Report

Hide

Hide

Report
- Membership changes
- Introduction
- Background
  - Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation
  - Commissioner for Fair Access
  - Actions to improve access to higher education
    
    Minimum Entry Requirements
    
    Articulation
- Barriers faced by students
  - Disabled students
  - Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) students
  - Care experienced students
  - Former forces personnel
  - Support available to students to address barriers
- Targets for widening access to higher education
  - Achievability
  - Attainment
  - Role of Colleges
  - Part-time students
  - Retention
- Widening access measurements
  - SIMD and a basket of measures
  - Free School Meals
  - Unique learner number
  - Personal data sharing under GDPR legislation
- Annexe
Sources

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 10. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Written evidence from the University of the West of Scotland contained in Annexe B of the cover note.. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 28 March 2025]

Written evidence from Universities Scotland contained in Annexe B of the cover note. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 1 April 2025]

Written evidence from Colleges Scotland contained in Annexe B of the cover note. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 1 April 2025]

Written evidence from the Commissioner for Fair Access contained in Annexe B of the cover note. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 1 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 2. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Written evidence from Lead Scotland contained in Annexe B of the cover note. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 1 April 2025]

Note of Session with young people (Divergent Influencers) hosted and supported by ARC Scotland, 30 January 2023. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2023/note-of-session-with-young-people-divergent-influencers-hosted-and-supported-by-arc-scotland.pdf [accessed 4 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 45. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 58. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 29. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 43. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 44. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Widening access to higher education - informal participation session with pupils, students and practitioners Monday 3 March 2025 - Note of discussion. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/ecyp-committee-widening-access-note-of-discussion.pdf [accessed 7 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 49. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 13. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 1 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 27. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 1 April 2025]

Letter from the Director, Universities Scotland to the Convener of 21 March 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/universities-scotland-follow-up-21-march-2025.pdf [accessed 14 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 60. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 17. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 18. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 39. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 56. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 26 March 2025]

Letter from the Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans to the Convener of 4 April 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/committees/current-and-previous-committees/session-6-education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/widening-access-to-higher-education-sg-follow-up-from-meeting-on-5-march-2025 [accessed 15 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 57. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 26 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 21. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 53. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 11. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Written evidence from SFC contained in Annexe B of the cover note.. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/10018/Paper-1--Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 16 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 12. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 9. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 42. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Written evidence from Universities Scotland, contained in Annexe B of the cover note.. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 31 March 2025]

Written evidence from Robert Gordon University contained in Annexe B of the cover note.. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 27 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 21. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 23. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 49. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 26 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 3. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 22. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 51. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 53. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 33. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 57. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 26. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 19 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 19. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 2. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 46. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Cols 40-41. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 44. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 24. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 31. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 18. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Written submission from HUB for SUCCESS contained in Annexe B of the cover note. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 27 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 32. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 5. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 34. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Written evidence from the Open University in Scotland contained in annexe B of the cover note. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/~/media/committ/9951/Paper-2-Cover-note--Widening-access [accessed 1 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 41. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 40. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 16. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2024]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 46. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Renewing the Alliance for Fair Access Annual Report 2024, page 7. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/independent-report/2024/01/renewing-alliance-fair-access-annual-report-2024/documents/renewing-alliance-fair-access-annual-report-2024/renewing-alliance-fair-access-annual-report-2024/govscot%3Adocument/renewing-alliance-fair-access-annual-report-2024.pdf [accessed 2 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 19. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 8. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 7. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 9. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 30. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 43. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 55. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 38. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 7. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 14. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 18 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 12. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 40. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 36. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 10. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 28. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Cols 36-37. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 37. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 20 March 2025]

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary to the Convener, 12 March 2023. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2023/college-regionalisation-report-12-june-2023.pdf [accessed 3 April 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 35. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 13. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Letter from the Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans to the Convener, 31 October 2024. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2024/prebudget-scrutiny-2025--2026-letter-from-minister-for-higher-and-further-education-and-minister-fo.pdf [accessed 31 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 42. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 21 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 36. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 6. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 26 February 2025, Col 16. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16285 [accessed 17 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 4. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 5. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 24 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 30. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Education, Children and Young People Committee. Official Report, 5 March 2025, Col 32. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/api/sitecore/CustomMedia/OfficialReport?meetingId=16301 [accessed 25 March 2025]

Letter from the Convener to the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, 10 March 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/letter-to-the-cabinet-secretary-on-widening-access--10-march-2025.pdf [accessed 4 April 2024]

Letter from the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills to the Convener of 24 March 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/letter-from-cabinet-secretary-education-and-skills-to-the-convener-24-march-2025.pdf [accessed 8 April 2025]

Letter from the Convener to the Scottish Information Commissioner of 13 March 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/letter-from-the-convener-to-the-sic-13-march-2025.pdf [accessed 8 April 2025]

Letter from Acting Head of Scottish Affairs, Information Commissioner's Office to the Convener of 28 March 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/ico-letter-to-convener-28-march-2025.pdf [accessed 8 April 2025]

Letter from Acting Head of Scottish Affairs, Information Commissioner's Office to the Convener of 4 April 2025. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.parliament.scot/-/media/files/committees/education-children-and-young-people-committee/correspondence/2025/ico-correction-letter-to-convener-4-april-2025.pdf [accessed 8 April 2025]

Last Updated: 10/3 6:17am

An error occured while loading, please try again in a few minutes.