Exclusive:Heriot-Watt closes its clearing list to Scots pupils as government defends funding model
Places are capped at Scottish universities for Scots students but pupils who miss out on their first choice can usually rely on clearing
Heriot-Watt has closed its clearing process to Scots students amid rising concerns about the current Scottish government university funding model.
The Edinburgh-based institution says it is in the “strong position” of having filled all of its government-funded places.
Yet critics say it will feel “desperately unfair” for Scottish students who miss out on their first preference and see a potential route closed to them.
Clearing is used by applicants who missed their offer, received no offers, applied late or who change their mind about their chosen course.
Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said: "It's frustrating for my constituents to be able to see that nearby places are available through clearing to anyone but them.
“There will be Scottish kids who narrowly miss out on the grades for their top options, or who've changed their mind on what or where they want to study, that will now find themselves shut out of university.
“It feels desperately unfair.”
Scottish students tend to rely less on clearing than their English peers because they achieve Higher grades in fifth year, unlike the A level system in England.
Due to the free university tuition model, the Scottish government caps the number of places available to students north of the border.
These are funded by the government through the Scottish Funding Council.
There are strict financial penalties for universities that take in more than their allocated number of Scottish students.
In 2025, a record 17,675 Scottish 18-year-olds secured a place at a Scottish university in 2025 - up 2.6 per cent on the year before.
All Scottish universities offer clearance places, although not across all course, with modern universities ordinarily keeping clearing places open until results day.
A spokesman for Heriot-Watt University said: “We are delighted to be in the strong position of having filled all our Scottish government funded places for Scottish students.
“This reflects the strength and appeal of our portfolio in the Scottish market.”
Scottish Labour education spokesperson Katherine Sangster said: "Scotland's universities have faced successive years of real-terms cuts from this SNP government, at a time when inflationary pressure means that funding is most needed.
"The SNP boast about free tuition in Scotland, but due to their failure to properly finance our institutions, it is Scottish students who are suffering.
"Scotland needs a sustainable tertiary education system that allows the sector to grow and succeed, instead of one starved for cash and forced to increasingly cross-subsidise from international fees.”
Students and teachers are understood to have raised concerns about increasingly limited numbers and choice in clearing places.
"This is a direct consequence of the SNP funding model,” Mr Cole-Hamilton added.
“We need to build a cross-party cross-sector consensus about the future funding of colleges and universities, responding to the underfunding of Scottish students, the need to protect against global shocks and exposure in a system that’s reliant on the fees of international students, and the unprecedented financial challenges currently facing institutions.”
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: “Increasingly, we’re seeing Scottish applicants miss out because universities are taking students from elsewhere – and that’s unfair.
“SNP ministers must work with universities to ensure Scottish students can access the places they deserve.”
A Scottish government spokesman said higher education is a “key priority” and it is “resolute” in protecting free tuition.
“Alongside Universities Scotland, we are taking forward the far-reaching and ambitious Future Framework, a major sector-wide review that will reinforce university sustainability and success going into the future,” he added.
Pupils will receive their exams results on August 4 this year.
A Universities Scotland spokeswoman said: “Students awaiting their results should also remember that clearing is just one of a number of options available after results day, with opportunities to secure places through direct engagement with universities, as well as pathways into further education and other routes that can still lead to degree-level study.”
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