Free Tuition

Education Based on Ability to Learn, Not Pay

One of the defining achievements of the SNP in government was the removal of tuition fees for Scottish-domiciled students of higher and further education courses at Scottish institutions.

This was one of the very first acts of the SNP in power. It was in the manifesto when first elected back in 2007, was brought in that same year, and has been protected ever since by SNP Scottish Governments.

This was a restoration of Scotland’s historic tradition of free education, with the SNP having always maintained that access to education should be based on the ability to learn not on the ability to pay. One result is that, despite having 8% of the UK population, Scotland only has around 3% of the total student debt in the UK.

And last year, as Graeme served as Minister for Higher & Further Education, the number of young Scots securing a place at university increased to a new high – as did the number of 18-year-olds from Scotland’s most deprived areas. These figures show the great strength and resilience of Scotland’s education system.

The SNP is determined to continue supporting the important work being done by our universities and colleges to ensure yet further progress on widening access. To this end, the Scottish Government has increased the financial support available to higher education students by £3,650 - while the maximum support available to the most vulnerable students has increased to £11,400.

The SNP’s resolute commitment to free tuition and enhanced student support offering means that that the opportunity of a university education is available to everyone, regardless of their background.