SCOTTISH universities are lagging behind the rest of the UK in student drop-out rates despite a slight improvement.
New figures show 6.5 per cent of new students at higher education institutions left early in 2014/15 compared to a UK average of 6.2 per cent. Ten years ago the drop out rate was 10 per cent.
The highest drop-out rates were at institutions which traditionally recruit a higher proportion of students from more disadvantaged backgrounds.
These students may be the first in their family to enter higher education and may also be coping with financial pressures which make it harder to complete their studies.
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The highest drop out rate was at the University of the West of Scotland where nearly 14 per cent left early.
The lowest rate was 2.3 per cent at St Andrews University, which also has the highest proportion of students from private schools.
Other institutions where drop-out rates were higher than average include Edinburgh Napier and Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.
Student body NUS Scotland welcomed the improving figures, but called for the university sector to do more.
NUS Scotland President Vonnie Sandlan said: “While it’s encouraging to see an increase in the number of students successfully progressing through university, it can’t be escaped that these figures remain below previous highs and Scotland still has the highest dropout figures in the UK.
“When any student feels they have no choice but to leave education, it not only represents a huge waste of that student’s talent, but it’s a great loss for our country as a whole.”
NUS Scotland called for more financial support for students to make sure they were dropping out because of poverty or having to work unreasonable hours.
Alastair Sim, director of Universities Scotland, which represents principals, said it was “very encouraging” to see the retention rate improve again.
He said: “This reflects a lot of hard work and commitment to ensure students have access to the right advice, support and guidance whether the need is academic, pastoral or financial.
“Universities will remain focused on supporting students, on delivering continuous improvement in retention at the same time as widening access.
We have always said it is important to widen access to get students of all backgrounds through the door, but just as important to support them when they are there.”
The data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency also looks at projected outcomes for students.
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It found that students at Scotland’s universities are the most likely in the UK to have a productive outcome at university, which might include achieving a degree, another higher education qualification or transferring course at university.
Overall 90.3 per cent of university students in Scotland were predicted to achieve a “positive outcome” compared to a UK average of 89.5 per cent.
Across the UK 6.2 per cent of young, full-time, first degree entrants in 2014/15 did not continue after their first year - up from 6 per cent last year.
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