More Scottish students secure first-choice university offer this year

Academic pass rates for the 145,000 students following the national education system in Scotland aligned with pre-Covid levels in a record-breaking year for achievement in vocational qualifications and university access.

Credit: George Clerk

Ruth Holmes

8 August 2024

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Students in Scotland are celebrating success and receiving well-deserved praise for all their hard work and determination in their exams, despite a glitchy start to Results Day 2024 and an overall fall in pass rates.According to data released by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on Tuesday, pass rates in the Scottish Highers – subject-based qualifications that can lead to university, further study, training or work and are broadly equivalent to an A level qualification – declined. The headline A–C rate for the 196,250 entries in the 2024 session was 74.9%, of which 30.3% were A grades. This compares to 77.1% in 2023 and 74.8% in 2019.Students usually take four or five Highers, with the flexibility of the Scottish curriculum allowing these to be taken over one or two years and assessed through examination.

Scottish National 5s and Advanced Higher results 2024

Pass rates for the National 5s (broadly GCSE equivalent) and the optional Advanced Highers, which can be studied after Highers and replicate a first year of university study, also fell – most sharply of all for the latter.Of the 28,495 Advanced Highers entries, 75.3% were grades A–C, with 30% at grade A. The figures were 79.8% and 79.4% in 2023 and 2019 respectively.At National 5s, 2024’s A–C attainment rate is 77.2% from the 327,950 entries, with A grades accounting for 38%. Last year, A–C attainment was 78.8% and 78.2% in 2019.According to UCAS, the university admission service in the UK, university entry requires at least five National 5 qualifications (Nat 5s) at grades A–C, although most universities recognise that you can bypass Nat 5s and move straight to Higher study.

Scottish vocational pathways celebrate landmark year

The SQA also reports a record-breaking year for Scotland’s vocational education offer.The total number of National Progression Awards, National Certificates, Skills for Work, and SQA Awards rose by 24.8% to 90,035.Students achieved qualification in areas including: business with information technology, computer games development, electrical engineering, employability, exercise and fitness leadership, health and social care, modern languages for life and work, photography, sports fitness and travel and tourism.

‘Rightly proud of achievements’

Commenting on this year’s set of results, the release of which had been delayed by technical difficulties the SQA apologised for, Fiona Robertson, chief executive of SQA and Scotland’s chief examining officer, said: "Our warmest congratulations to the 145,000 learners across Scotland whose achievements are being celebrated today. They can be rightly proud of their positive performance."While there is some variability in the national attainment picture in 2024, this is a solid set of results for learners in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher courses. 2024 also marks a record-breaking year for vocational qualifications, as Scotland’s learners excelled in achieving valuable skills to build rewarding careers."And all of this has been achieved by a group of learners who experienced significant disruption to teaching and learning during the pandemic. Scotland’s learners should be rightly proud of their achievements, supported by Scotland's dedicated and hard-working teachers, lecturers, our schools and colleges, and the wider education community."Fiona Robertson also highlighted vocational students’ success. “While Results Day provides an important focus on learner achievement which is being certificated today, we are also celebrating those who receive their certificates throughout the year, including for Higher National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications and for those undertaking Foundation Apprenticeships."The wide range of qualifications is supporting young people in reaching their full potential as they progress to college, university, apprenticeships, other learning, training and employment."

Access to university widens for students in Scotland?

Data released on Scotland’s results day from university admissions service UCAS show that 30,270 Scottish applicants gained a place at their first (UCAS ‘firm’) choice. This is up from 28,450 last year (+6%) and 27,160 (+11%) in 2019.A record 20,670 Scots aged 19 and under have been accepted at university or college, up from 19,640 (+5%) in 2023 and 16,610 (+24%) in 2019.Moreover, 1,950 of 17 and 18-year-olds from the 20% most deprived postcodes (SIMD20) have been accepted onto their preferred university course, up from 1,790 (+9%) last year and 1,340 (+46%) in 2019. These figures "reflect sustained effort across the education sector in Scotland to widen access to university", says UCAS. However, the Guardian newspaper reports that the attainment gap between students from the most affluent areas compared to the most deprived areas has increased slightly this year across all three qualification levels in Scotland.Scotland's education minister Jenny Gilruth is also seeking meetings with education and examination leaders to discuss the disparity in attainment by local authority. Speaking to the Scotsman, Ms Gilruth said: “I am conscious that there is a wide degree of variation in results between our 32 local authorities. To that end, I will be meeting with all local authority directors of education, the chief examiner and the interim chief inspector to consider the context of these results and how the Scottish Government can work with our councils to drive the improvements we all want to see.”

The number of international students accepted at Scottish universities and colleges has also slightly increased to 3,480 this year, up from 3,370 (+3%) last year.The top three subjects seeing the largest growth are media and journalism (+21%), engineering and technology (+14%) and business management (+13%).Dr Jo Saxton CBE, UCAS’ chief executive, said: “Everyone at UCAS offers congratulations to those celebrating today. I'm delighted to be in Scotland today, seeing at first-hand record numbers of disadvantaged students begin that journey to the life-changing experience higher education has to offer. “Widening access is a key priority for UCAS, and of course for universities, colleges and schools in Scotland. Today’s figures demonstrate the tremendous efforts made to support applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds to achieve their aspirations and career ambitions. “I would encourage any students reconsidering their options or even those who have yet to apply, to explore Clearing. There are plenty of options for you to consider, with some 27,000 courses, including around 2,800 at Scottish institutions. UCAS’ team of expert advisers are also on hand to answer any questions on the phone, on our website and on our social media channels.”

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