The 26* colleges operate in 13 regions across Scotland, 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 2022/23

Total Revenue Funding £696.3m
including
Student Support £137.0m
Flexible Workforce Development Fund £17.0m
Young Person’s Guarantee £10.0m
Foundation Apprenticeships £8.8m

Total Capital Funding £72.6m
including
Estates Maintenance £31.2m
Digital Poverty £2.9m

Over 70% of college funding goes towards staffing costs

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

Funding Per Student (2019/21)

Pre-school £6,143
Primary £7,397
Secondary School £8,278
College £4,321
University £5,913

21% of colleges’ income does not come directly from the Scottish Funding Council

College Estates

Since 2007, the Scottish Government has invested over £823m in college capital projects including new campuses and buildings. A further £330m in Non-Profit Distributing (NPD) revenue funded investment has also been allocated.

State-of-the-art college campuses ensure that students can learn in innovative classrooms and workshops on industry standard equipment which enhances their learning experience and prepares them for employment.

A sector Infrastructure Strategy is being developed which will set out the framework for investment in college estates.

New campus buildings are contributing to the sector’s efforts to tackling the climate emergency by being more efficient and sustainable. In 2021, colleges also signed up to a Statement of Commitment on the Climate Emergency which support Scotland’s efforts to achieve net-zero climate emissions by 2045, with Scotland’s colleges aiming to achieve net-zero by 2040 or earlier.

College Staff

There are 14,124 staff in colleges (10,849 FTEs)

Staff

Lecturing Staff 51%
Support Staff 49%

Full-time/Part-time

Full-time 68%
Part-time 32%

Gender

Women 61%
Men 39%

87% of full-time permanent lecturing staff have a recognised teaching qualification

2.3% of staff are from minority ethnic groups

7% of staff have a declared disability

48% of staff are aged 51 and over

5% of staff are from overseas, 4% from the EU

Management and Governance (as at 1st October 2021)

College Boards

Men 53%
Women 47%

College Chairs

Men 79%
Women 21%

College Principals

Men 42%
Women 58%

Senior Management

Men 47%
Women 53%