Scotland's 24* colleges operate in 13 regions across the country, allowing them to plan locally, regionally, and nationally for the benefit of individuals, communities, the economy, and wider society.

*includes Newbattle Abbey College and Sabhal Mòr Ostaig which sit outwith regional arrangements.

SRUC is a higher education institution which delivers further education provision.

College Funding 2023/24

Total Revenue Funding £658.6m
including
Student Support £137.0m

Total Capital Funding £82.4m
including
Estates Maintenance £35.9m
Digital Poverty (for colleges, universities, and CLD) £5.0m

Colleges will also benefit from:

Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Fund of £3.21m (for colleges and universities)

Active Campus Network funding of £1.45m

At least 70% of college budgets go towards staffing costs

Around 20% of colleges' income does not come directly from the Scottish Funding Council

College Revenue Funding Trend

2016/17 £542.5m
2017/18 £559.2m
2018/19 £588.9m
2019/20 £615.3m
2020/21 £685.3m
2021/22 £732.8m
2022/23 £696.3m
2023/24 £658.6m

Funding Per Student (2022/23)

Secondary School £7,657
College £5,054
University £7,558

College Estates

In 2023/24, the sector received £82.4m in Capital funding, with £35.9m of that allocated for estates maintenance.

While some colleges have benefited from investment in buildings, digital and classroom equipment in recent years, others are urgently in need of repair and upgrading.

As recognised by Audit Scotland, the estimated backlog maintenance and lifecycle maintenance requirements for the sector’s estates was approximately £473m over the last five years to 2022/23, however there has been a shortfall of £321m of the amount required during this period.

Colleges should have great learning and working environments for students and staff, which also help colleges to meet net-zero ambitions as organisations and public sector assets.

College Staff

There are 14,321 staff in colleges (10,849 FTEs)

Lecturing Staff 51%
Support Staff 49%

Full-time/Part-time

Full-time 69%
Part-time 31%

Gender

Women 61%
Men 39%

86% of full-time permanent lecturing staff have a recognised teaching qualification

3% of staff are from minority ethnic groups

8% of staff have a declared disability

47% of staff are aged 51 and over

4% of staff are from the EU and 2% from overseas outwith the EU

Management and Governance

(as at 1st October 2022)

College Chairs

Men 75%
Women 25%

College Boards

Men 52%
Women 48%

College Principals

Men 58%
Women 42%

Senior Management

Men 43%
Women 57%