RECORD numbers of Scottish pupils have secured a place at university north of the Border following the best ever exam results at Higher, sparking a scramble for the remaining courses.

Some 22,770 applicants secured a higher education place on the day they received their exam results - an increase of 550 on the previous year, or 2%.

Overall, more than 28,900 ­applicants so far have secured a higher education place in a Scottish university or college, including those from the rest of the UK, the EU and overseas.

Angela Constance, Minister for Youth Employment, highlighted the extra places the Scottish Government has made available this year as part of moves to widen access.

She said: "It is great news that so many Scots are already accepted to a Scottish university to study for a degree on exam results day."

However, for those that missed out on the grades required it promises to be another competitive year with few universities going into the clearing system, which matches free places with students.

Although record numbers have secured places in university, there were also record applications this year.

Ucas, which operates the ­clearing system, highlighted a number of Scottish universities that still have free places on some courses for Scots.

Aberdeen University was yesterday advertising more than 100 courses including accountancy, mathematics, archaeology, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, civil engineering, computing, economics, English and geography.

Abertay University, in Dundee, has vacancies in 42 courses, including accounting, civil ­engineering, forensic sciences, law and management, while Dundee University has places on 85 courses.

Heriot-Watt University, in ­Edinburgh, has 152 courses with vacancies, the University of the Highlands and Islands has 100 and the University of the West of Scotland has 65.

Universities with much smaller numbers of vacancies include Edinburgh Napier, Glasgow Caledonian, Queen Margaret ­University, in Edinburgh, Robert Gordon, in Aberdeen, Stirling and Strathclyde, in Glasgow.

Alastair Sim, director of ­Universities Scotland, which represents university principals, stressed that most candidates with good exam results would secure a place.

He said: "The vast majority of well-qualified applicants will get a place at university and the increase in Scottish applicants is very welcome.

"There are still a number of places available through clearing for those Scots who have not yet secured a place and we can expect more successful Scottish applicants over the coming days."

Steve Jeffree, chief operating officer for Ucas, said it was important for applicants to be flexible.

He added: "Thousands of courses are available in clearing and there's no requirement to stick with the same subjects you applied for originally."

John Henderson, chief ­executive of Colleges Scotland, said candidates should be aware of the many higher education courses in the further education sector.

He said: "Pupils should contact colleges in their region and find out more about the courses and qualifications available, progression routes, paths into employment and advice on how to fund their studies.

"Scottish colleges offer hundreds of courses that offer students a route into Scotland's key growth industries and sectors."

Meanwhile, student body NUS Scotland called for as many applications as possible to be converted into acceptances, particularly for those from the poorest backgrounds.