THE number of university places for Scottish students should be expanded to prevent talented pupils missing out, sector leaders have said.

Universities, lecturers and students called on the Scottish Government to fund an expansion of higher education after concerns it is getting harder to secure a place.

Last month, a report by Scotland’s spending watchdog found Scottish students are finding it increasingly difficult to secure a place at university north of the Border.

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Audit Scotland said the squeeze was taking place because applications from Scottish students are increasing at a higher rate than available places. Two thirds of higher education students were Scottish in 2014/15 compared to three-quarters in 2005/06.

The call for an expansion comes as thousands of pupils across Scotland prepare to receive their exam results for Nationals, Highers and Advanced Highers.

With pass rates improving in recent years any further increase in suitable candidates for university is likely to put even more pressure on places for Scots.

David Lott, deputy director of Universities Scotland, which represents principals, said: "Recent years have delivered record numbers of passes at Higher and Advanced Higher and the number of Scots accepted into universities across Scotland increased last year. Scotland’s universities also saw an increase in applications.

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"With increasing numbers of well-qualified applicants, but a relatively static number of funded places, it is getting harder for universities to create opportunities for those in Scotland who are highly deserving of a place.

"When the excitement of results day calms down we’d welcome a conversation with the Scottish Government about the number of funded places that can be made available to Scottish students over the next few years."

Mary Senior, Scottish official for the UCU lecturers' union, also highlighted the Audit Scotland report's focus on increasing pressure on places.

She said: "Providing higher education free at the point of access is an enlightened policy approach, and we need to increase public investment so our universities can widen access and develop as world-leading institutions."

Vonnie Sandlan, president of student body NUS Scotland, said there was an ever growing demand from Scots for a "precious" university place with even greater competition following recommendations from the Commission on Widening Access that more students from poorer backgrounds should be recruited.

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She said: "There continues to be a worrying gap between applications for university and a place and particularly for students from our most deprived communities.

“Those concerns, combined with the positive and ambitious targets set by the recent commission, presents a challenge that needs to be met with the necessary funding and opportunities to allow students to access university and realise their potential.

"We want to see those ambitious targets not just met in full, if not exceeded – and that requires strong public investment, in return for the strong public benefit it provides.

"In recent years we’ve seen the creation of thousands of extra places and, as we look ahead to the coming spending review, we’ll be making a clear demand for those places to be increased further ensuring we continue to expand opportunities available."

A SG spokesperson said: “For the fifth year in succession, we are investing over £1 billion in our higher education institutions to provide a stable base allowing them to grow and attract additional funding. Supporting all students, particularly those from less advantaged backgrounds is a top priority for this government. That is why we have committed to implementing all of the recommendations made by the Commission on Widening Access and reviewing student support.

“Since 2007, the number of Scottish domiciled full-time first degree entrants to Scottish universities has risen by 11% and a record number of students successfully completed full-time higher education courses at colleges in 2014-15. Our commitment to free tuition contributes to Scottish average student loan debt being the lowest in the UK and our minimum income guarantee of £7,625 for the poorest students living at home is currently the best anywhere in the UK.”

The Audit Scotland report published in July found that demand for Scottish university places from Scottish applicants has increased by 23 per cent since 2010, but the number of offers made only increased by nine per cent.

That has led to a decline in the offer rate of seven percentage points from 57 per cent in 2010 to 50 per cent in 2015 "which means it has become more difficult for Scottish applicants to be offered a place at a Scottish university".

In contrast, offer rates for applicants from the rest of the UK and countries outside the EU increased between 2010 and 2015, by, on average, 11 per cent.

Of the 47,710 Scottish applicants who applied, 30,665 accepted an offer of a place at a Scottish university and 8,885 applicants did not receive any offers.