Scottish ministers cut spending on free university places

Universities Scotland says £48.5m cuts will lead to ‘hard choices’ next year

Ministers in Edinburgh have cut spending on free university places for Scottish students, forcing universities to pare back on loss-making courses and cut spending.

Universities Scotland, the umbrella body for the sector, said the proposed cuts of £48.5m in funding for teaching Scottish students would lead to “inescapably hard choices” next year, likely to include leaving teaching vacancies unfilled.