Local universities say no tuition fees decision before end of this month

Dundee, St Andrews and Abertay universities have refused to be drawn on their position over fees.

Following the announcement that a four-year degree course at Edinburgh University will cost £36,000 for non-Scots UK students, The Courier asked the three universities in our area to set out their plans.

In response, all three would only say that they will reveal their position in line with the Scottish Government’s timetable.

“We will be making a decision before the end of September, which was the schedule agreed by the Scottish Government and Universities Scotland,” said the Dundee University spokesman.

He was echoed by the spokesman for Abertay, and the spokeswoman for St Andrews.

Only three Scottish universities Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt have shown their hands.

There are fears that a huge increase in fees from the current £1,800 could hit the number of rest-of-UK students who choose Scotland.

St Andrews University has proved a magnet for English students, while Dundee attracts applicants from Northern Ireland and Abertay gets around 20% of its intake from the rest of the UK.