'Two-tier' university claims as angry father hits out after star pupil is locked out of places

By MICHAEL BLACKLEY, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 18:32, 14 August 2026 | Updated: 18:32, 14 August 2026 Scottish universities are operating a ‘two-tier system’ based on tuition fee income, SNP ministers have been warned. It comes amid concerns that talented home students are missing out on places to fee-paying youngsters from the rest of the UK and abroad. The father of one high-achieving pupil has now written to the Scottish Government after she was ‘locked out’ of university during the Clearing process. With pupils south of the Border receiving their A-level results in midweek, universities have stepped up their bid to woo fee-paying students from the rest of the UK and overseas. Data from the admissions service Ucas shows that on A-level results day, on Thursday, 2,403 courses were open to those based in England who pay fees of up to £9,535 a year through Clearing, compared with only 1,231 courses open to Scottish students who pay no fees. The father of a 17-year-old girl, who secured four As and a B at Higher and two As and a B at Advanced Higher, has now written to education minister Ben Macpherson to outline his concerns. Frustrated parents have written to education minister Ben MacPherson The pupil at Boclair Academy in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, has been unable to secure a Clearing place for a business, psychology or related subject at Glasgow, Edinburgh or Strathclyde with admissions staff blaming the situation on Scottish Government caps on funded places for Scots students. The frustrated parent, who did not want to be named, said: ‘This creates a situation where a high-attaining Scottish student is effectively locked out of suitable courses because of her fee status, while places remain available for UK and international applicants. ‘Whether intended or not, this feels like a two-tier system based not on academic merit or “ability to learn”, but on ability to generate higher fee income.’ The father highlighted that ministers have been able to provide a £40million emergency cash injection to Dundee University. He said: ‘These interventions demonstrate that resources can be found when institutional sustainability is at risk. ‘It is therefore difficult to understand why the funded places available to Scottish undergraduates have been allowed to become so tight that students with excellent grades cannot access appropriate local courses.’ Some universities yesterday launched additional efforts to appeal to pupils getting their A-level results south of the Border, including extended opening hours for their admissions hotlines. Scottish universities have been accused of running a 'two-tier' system prioritising fee-paying students over Scottish students Analysis of Ucas Clearing data shows Glasgow University had 29 courses available to Scottish students and 43 for English students, while Stirling had seven courses for Scottish students and 158 for those in England. Scottish Tory education spokesman Meghan Gallacher said: ‘This is further damning proof that the SNP’s university funding model is seriously flawed. ‘The SNP’s failure to address this situation means those who can pay their way are now able to leapfrog Scottish students. ‘Case studies like this one must finally be the catalyst for the SNP to act and ensure that opportunities for Scottish students do not continue to be limited.’ Mr Macpherson said: ‘More Scots students than ever before have secured a university place this year. ‘Our protection of free tuition in Scotland means going to university is based on a person’s ability to learn and not their ability to pay.’