Glasgow School of Art hails highest retention rate for poorest students

Professor Penny Macbeth, its director and principal, said it was a “powerful testament to the talent that exists in every community in Scotland”.

It came as research showed students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds are increasingly staying on at university.

Exam result data released on Tuesday found a higher number of pupils from deprived backgrounds had secured university places, with 87.7 per cent of disadvantaged youngsters returning for second year.

This is up 1.6 percentage points on the previous year, but still below the national average of 91.7 per cent.

READ MORE: More students from Scotland's most deprived communities are staying on at university

A total of 97 per cent of students from the most deprived areas continued with their studies at the GSA, the highest rate across all Scottish universities.

Meanwhile, 22.9 per cent of the GSA's new students in 2024/25 came from the country’s 20 per cent most deprived areas, exceeding nationwide access targets.

Prof Macbeth said: "These figures are a powerful testament to the talent that exists in every community in Scotland.

“At the GSA, we have shown for over five years now that when you open doors to students from the most deprived backgrounds, they don't just succeed – they lead.

“A 97 per cent retention rate for students from our most disadvantaged areas, alongside exceeding our access target once again, sends a clear message that excellence and opportunity go hand in hand."

In 2024/25, 20.9 per cent of graduating students at the GSA came from the most deprived areas—the second highest rate in Scotland, outperforming the Scottish university average of 13.8 per cent.

Shona Paul, head of professional and continuing education at the GSA, said: " We believe that everyone should be able to fulfil their creative potential.

“The success of this commitment is reflected not only in the GSA surpassing the Scottish Government's 20 per cent by 2030 target since 2019, widening access at the point of entry – we are sustaining that access right through to graduation.

“Being ranked first in Scotland for retention and second for those graduating shows that our support systems, from contextual admissions through to student support, are working."

READ MORE: Scotland's exam results 'incredibly positive' as all pass rates increase

University retention rates had slumped during and immediately following the Covid-19 pandemic but widening access figures show a recovery in students finishing their degrees.

Of Scottish-domiciled full-time first degree students who entered university in 2023/24, 91.7 per centre returned for their second year of study, up 2.2 percentage points on the previous year.

Retention rates also improved for care experienced students, increasing by 1.5 percentage points to 86.4 per cent, while retention among disabled students rose by 1.8 percentage points to 90.4 per cent.

Exam results data shows the gap between the richest and poorest pupils still remains significant when it comes to attainment.

There was a 15.6 point gap in the pass rate at National 5, 15.9 points at Higher and 12.1 points at Advanced Higher, down 0.8, 0.9 and 1.2 points from last year.