Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 32
32
By 17 February 2021 the forecast operating deficit for the higher education sector in academic...
Conclusion
By 17 February 2021 the forecast operating deficit for the higher education sector in academic year 2020–21 had improved significantly and was estimated to be around £50 million83 (compared to the £450–500 million expected in July 202084). The Times reported that an unanticipated influx of fee-paying international students has given a “lifeline” to Scottish universities.85 74 Q67 75 Q110 76 Q110 77 Q110 78 Q111 79 Q121 80 Q117 81 Q121 82 Q35 83 Scottish Parliament, COVID-19: Scotland’s colleges and universities (1 March 2021), p 17 84 Scottish Parliament, The impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on university funding in Scotland (23 July 2020), p 3 85 “Fee-paying foreign students provide a lifeline for Scottish universities”, The Times, 11 October 2020 Universities and Scotland 19