Scottish universities will be able to recruit an extra 2,000 students next year thanks to a funding boost.
Education secretary Mike Russell yesterday announced he was allocating £10 million for measures to widen access and help students move on from college to university.
He also wants to encourage more people into key economic areas, such as life sciences and energy.
The creation of extra places was described as “great news” by Dundee University principal Professor Pete Downes, who is convener of Universities Scotland.
He said: “One of very few straightforward barriers to greater progress has been the fact that universities have had to do what they can to create wider opportunities within a fixed number of places, and at a time when demand from very well qualified applicants for a place at university far outstrips supply.
“The extra places are a very welcome means of alleviating some of the pressure on places and should give bright applicants from less traditional backgrounds and routes of entry the opportunity to demonstrate their potential to gain from study at university.”
Professor Downes noted the funding had been found within existing university budgets, from the main teaching grant or the reinvestment of public funding saved as a result of the introduction of fees for students from other parts of the UK.
The places would add to the range of actions universities are taking to widen access and improve student retention.
The additional places were also welcomed by Robin Parker, president of the National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland, who said: “This is fantastic news. NUS Scotland and students across Scotland have been campaigning incredibly hard for fairer access to higher education in Scotland.
“We know universities can’t do it all when it comes to fair access, but they can do much more.
“With these increased places they really have no excuse but to make real and ambitious progress to open university to talented people from all backgrounds.
“Equally, the significant number of places guaranteed for college students moving to university will not only boost access and fairness, it will reduce waste and overlap and see additional investment in colleges.”
The Scottish Funding Council has yet to announce how much money and extra places each university will get.
There will be 700 places for widening access, 1,000 for people moving on from college and 300 for the Skills for Growth scheme.
Mr Russell said: “This will mean more young Scots will reap the benefits of a university education.
“This funding will help more college students see their learning count towards a university degree and ensure young people from deprived areas who show potential get the support and education they need to realise that potential.”
grsmith@thecourier.co.uk