SCOTTISH universities fear the loss of millions of pounds in fees from students from the rest of the UK following changes in Westminster higher education policy.

The 19,000 students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who currently attend Scottish institutions contribute some £140 million annually to the sector here.

However, from this year a cap on the number of students English universities can admit is to be lifted - meaning they will be able to create thousands of additional places.

A spokeswoman for Universities Scotland, which represents university principals, said the move could impact on the number of students from the rest of the UK (rUK) seeking a place north of the Border.

She said: “Since fees went up to £9,000 in England there have been changes to the system every year and now there are no limits at all on the number of university places. This has inevitable knock-on effects when it comes to students from England considering Scotland as a place of study.

“So far, Scotland’s universities have remained an attractive proposition, but the uncapping of university places is a big change.

“We have always highlighted the volatility in rUK student numbers and the fact policy changes elsewhere have the potential to impact markedly on Scottish universities’ ability to recruit.”

The warning comes as thousands of Scottish pupils prepare to receive their exam results from the Scottish Qualifications Authority.

Once again pupils who want to go to university this year having received their Highers results will face a tough scramble for places with only a few institutions entering the clearing system - which matches prospective students with available places.

However, the majority of Scottish students getting their Higher results this week will not be affected.

That is because they intend to stay on at school to take additional qualifications such as Advanced Highers and will apply to university at the beginning of S6 with their full set of Highers results.

Because of the separate admissions system for rUK pupils - who are now treated like international students - more institutions will have clearing places available for them.

In recent years this has been seen as giving those students an unfair advantage, but the places they compete for are not the same as those available for Scots.

This year will also see increased interest in the number of pupils passing the maths Higher after widespread controversy that it was too difficult.

Vonnie Sandlan, president of NUS Scotland, attacked the continuing uncertainty around the impact of rUK fees.

She said: “Scottish universities have benefited to the tune of hundreds of millions of pounds from students from the rest of the UK, with Scotland having some of the highest tuition fees and degree costs in the whole of the UK for students who don’t originally come from here.

“However, with uncapped places down south there is a risk that fewer English, Welsh and Northern Irish students will come to Scotland in the future.

“This is yet another case of how university principals should be careful with what they wish for. As we’ve seen in England, charging such high fees can introduce huge uncertainty and create an unsustainable funding system.”

A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Universities have always taken on students beyond those funded by the Scottish Government and it is for each institution to decide how many such places – aimed at international students outwith the EU and students resident in the rest of the UK – that they wish to offer.

“We are committed to investing over £1 billion in our universities this year, which includes an increase in the number of funded places available for Scottish domiciled students.”