Almost half of Scottish adults (48%) wants to see university tuition fees based on the ability to pay, according to a report released today.

Its findings come just a week after Education Minister Jenny Gilruth said the SNP will maintain free tuition fees, despite the funding crisis facing Scotland’s universities.

Scotland is the only UK nation to offer free university tuition to its home students.

The future of the policy has been questioned amid a funding crisis in the sector, which was brought into sharp focus after Dundee University announced it is cutting 632 jobs in a bid to address a £35m deficit.

The report from the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland revealed that only 29% of respondents would not back means-testing of fees.

Despite public support for basing fees on the ability to pay, Ms Gilruth stated: “My party, the SNP, is never going to support a policy where we bring back tuition fees.”

The report shows widespread support for some form of help with the cost of tuition fees, with 44% saying the Scottish Government should continue to support all first-time undergraduates, including those studying part-time, while 43% would prefer those whose households can afford it to pay at least some of their tuition fees.

When asked where the Scottish Government should prioritise post-school education funding, 61% of respondents backed apprenticeship places which allow young people to ‘earn while they learn’.

This was followed by grants or bursaries for low-income and disadvantaged students to cover the cost of living (50%).

Upskilling and retraining for adults on low incomes and supporting people who face barriers to university were prioritised by 43% and 29% respectively, while just over a quarter (26%) felt that funding all first-time undergraduate tuition fees should be a priority.

The current funding model, which has been in place for nearly 18 years, has come under strain as universities face tough decisions to address financial deficits

Following calls for more open debate on the issue, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland is now commissioning a Citizen Jury which will bring together a representative sample of people from Scotland to consider evidence on the subject of higher education funding and make recommendations.  

Hannah Garrow, chief executive of the trust, said: “We know how complex the higher education funding system is and how much rides on it. However, recent discussions on how to finance higher education feel like they are stuck on repeat, while, for many people, funding continues to be seen as a barrier to access.

“This research shows that there is room for a more nuanced and open discussion on priorities for funding. If politicians are struggling to come up with solutions, perhaps the public can inject some democratic innovation into the debate.

“The government has already committed to lead the development of a new funding model so understanding the views of the public as beneficiaries and users of the system is critical.”

The Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland was established in 1901 to support individuals who faced financial barriers to access higher education. Before the government funded university tuition, the Trust supported nearly half of the people studying at Scottish universities. In 2024-25 the Trust is supporting over 300 people from low-income backgrounds and under-represented groups to access university, all of whom are currently ineligible for government support.