Poor children may miss out on university opportunities because their homes are wrongly classified as affluent, a new warning has highlighted.
The issue lies in the way the Scottish Government assesses which students need support to pursue higher education, creating a “postcode lottery,” according to critics.
The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) divides Scotland into 7,000 small areas to allocate public funds and benefits. However, a recent analysis reveals that some areas with lower property values are wrongly categorized as wealthy.
For example, Aberdeen’s West End South is classified as “very affluent.” Yet, a one-bedroom flat in the area is currently for sale for just £80,000. Meanwhile, Beith West in Ayrshire is ranked among Scotland’s top five wealthiest areas, yet houses there can be purchased for as little as £62,000.
In contrast, Glasgow’s southside suburb of Dumbreck, although home to expensive properties, is listed among the 20 percent of Scotland’s most deprived areas. Recent sales include a five-bedroom villa worth £880,000, according to estate agents Rettie.
Miles Briggs, the Conservative Party’s education spokesman, criticized the current system, suggesting it may favor wealthier students over those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
He said, “Talented young people should not face this postcode lottery when it comes to their university prospects. The SNP ministers, who often claim to be progressive in education, must address this issue now.”
The University of Edinburgh emphasized that students from the most deprived areas who meet the required grades would likely receive an offer. Similarly, Glasgow University offers “preferred access” to applicants from the 40 percent most deprived areas, though they also consider other factors, such as care experience. A university spokesperson explained, “Our admissions process is more contextual than just relying on SIMD data.”
Government officials assured that efforts are ongoing to ensure equal access to higher education. A Scottish Government spokesman stated, “The SIMD remains a useful tool, though we recognize challenges in its application. We are working to incorporate more individual-level indicators of financial hardship to improve access.”
The debate over the postcode lottery continues, with calls for a more accurate and fair system to determine which students need assistance to attend university.
