SCOTTISH universities have agreed to recruit more than 700 extra students from poorer backgrounds next year under an initiative to widen access.

The latest round of outcome agreements signed by higher education institutions shows 727 extra places will be allocated to students from disadvantaged backgrounds in 2013/14.

Under the agreements, universities set out what they intend to achieve in return for their public funding after negotiations with the Scottish Funding Council (SFC).

One of the most significant areas of change is the targets on widening access now being employed in some institutions.

The Scottish Government has pressed universities to increase the proportion of students from more deprived areas after a decade of stagnation in the sector. However, because of fears such a move would displace students from more middle-class homes, additional places have been created under a scheme worth £40 million for the year 2013/14.

All 19 Scottish universities have signed up to the commitments.

Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, said: "In ensuring at least another 700 young people from poorer backgrounds will be able to enter university next year, this commitment steps up the good work carried out already."

Laurence Howells, interim chief executive of the SFC, added: "Outcome agreements see the funding council securing even better contributions from universities towards the success of students, businesses and key industry sectors and fairer access to ... higher education."

However, Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, called for more to be done. "This shows fair access agreements are beginning to take effect, but it's unclear whether universities are taking the initiative and going above and beyond this."

Under the agreements St Andrews University, which has been criticised in for its low number of access students, will increase intake numbers by some 45% to approximately 19 students.