Student applications have increased

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) said applications north of the border - where students do not have to pay tuition fees - were higher than in England and Wales.

And women accounted for more than half the university and higher education population in 2001-02.

Applications from Scottish students under the age of 21 increased by 2.9%, compared with rises of 1.5% in England and 1.1% in Wales.

The total number of students in Scotland increased by 3.9% - the highest growth in the UK - compared with 2.3% in England, 2.4% in Wales and 3.6% in Northern Ireland.

The proportion of women enrolling at further education colleges also increased to 57%.

The Scottish Executive statistics revealed a total of 272,627 higher education students in Scotland - 4% more than the previous year.