Thousands of would-be students could miss out on a place at Scotland’s universities because the number of applications has surged by almost a third.
Figures from Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) revealed 38,763 people had applied for up to three courses by the main January deadline – a 31.2% increase on last year.
Up to seven people are applying for each place at some institutions – sparking fears that thousands of talented people will be turned away.
Aberdeen University received 16,795 applications, a 32% increase from last year, but the university can only accommodate 2,500 students from the UK and EU.
The university has also seen a 63% increase in the number of people applying for science and engineering degree courses.
Robert Gordon University (RGU) had a total of 5,719 applicants last year, which has increased to 8,748.
RGU was unable to say how many spaces were available for potential students.
A spokesman said: “We are currently analysing student application targets against the new consolidation policy applying to all higher educational institutions in the country and a decision will be made once all factors have been duly considered.”
The UHI Millennium Institute, which has campuses across the north, received 449 applications compared with 300 last year
Dundee University saw a 41.6% rise in applications, from 11,206 last year to 15,870 this year.
Applications to Abertay University increased by 26.4%, from 3,509 to 4,435.
A spokesman for Abertay University said: “Applicants through Ucas apply for up to five different courses and can ultimately only go on to take one of these five places. Therefore, much of the concern over perceived lack of spaces will be unfounded.
“We will be in a better position to assess the outcome of the offers we have made once the deadline for applicants’ responses passes at the end of March.”
Stirling University saw a 41.2% increase in applications, from 9,023 to 12,742.
Last night Ucas chief executive Mary Cook said the rise could be due to people re-applying after declining university places last year.
She said: “These figure will include applicants who withdrew or decided not to take up offers, as well as those who were unsuccessful in securing a place in 2009.
“It is clear that once again we have seen a significant rise in applications which leaves us in no doubt that, as last year, this cycle will be very challenging and competitive for applicants and the higher education sector generally.”
Liam Burns, president of student union NUS Scotland, said: “Unless action is taken urgently many thousands of talented people face being denied a university place just when we need them most.
“This really is a crisis situation that demands immediate action from everyone.”
Mary Senior, of the University and College Union Scotland, warned that potential students could miss out due to a lack of investment by the Scottish Government.
She said: “Many potential students are going to miss out on a university education which would have helped them find employment after the recession because of a lack of investment in our brightest citizens.
“This approach is an insult and a snub to the thousands of students the government has been encouraging to reach for university for the entirety of their educational career.”
A government spokeswoman said: “We announced in October that we would be financially supporting an approximate 10% increase in students at universities in this academic year to meet increasing demand, and last week we announced money to help support that increased intake. In relation to student support, we have already announced a £30million package to increase student income in the next academic year.”