Historic Legislation: The Education (Scotland) Act of 1980 eliminated tuition fees for Scottish students attending Scottish universities, making it part of the country's education policy.
No Tuition for EU Students: Prior to Brexit, EU students were treated as domestic students in Scotland and were therefore eligible for free tuition. While this is no longer the case since the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, EU students still pay significantly lower tuition fees than international students.
Student Support: The Scottish government provides generous support to students, including grants and bursaries, which can help cover living costs and reduce the overall financial burden of attending university.
Competition Between Universities: The higher education sector in Scotland is relatively small, with only a handful of universities. This competitive landscape encourages institutions to offer lower fees to attract students.
Funding Arrangements: The funding formula used by the Scottish government considers factors such as student numbers and subject mix, which can result in lower overall costs for universities compared to other parts of the UK.
Government Policy: The Scottish government prioritizes accessible higher education and invests in ensuring that university education is affordable for students from all backgrounds.
It's important to note that tuition fees for international students (excluding EU students) are generally higher than those for Scottish and EU students in Scotland.