Fewer Scottish students were admitted to universities at home

Statistics from university admissions service Ucas also showed an increase in the number of English students entering Scottish universities.

The number of Scottish admissions fell by 2.4% last year, to 25,710.

Opposition parties said increased top-up fees were forcing out Scottish students, but the Scottish Executive rejected the claim.

The figures showed that UK-wide there was a record 7.25% rise in the number of applicants accepted by universities last autumn - 405,369 compared with 377,544 in 2004.

But Scotland bucked the trend, with the number of Scottish students offered university places in Scotland falling by 2.4% to 25,710 and those entering UK universities falling by 2% to 27,673.

'Squeezed out'

The number of English students accepted in the UK went up by 8.9% to 301,798 and in Scottish universities by 5.4% to 4,287.

However, the number of Scottish students accepted by English universities increased by 4.6% to 1,881.

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Murdo Fraser said his party had predicted top-up fees in England would lead to a flow of English applicants to Scottish universities.

He added that although the executive had tried to level the playing field by introducing charges for English students, these were having a "very limited impact".

Mr Fraser said: "Our concern will be if talented young Scots are squeezed out of places at Scottish universities and forced further afield than they would otherwise have liked, due to the Labour government's imposition of top-up fees."

There must be no suggestion that Scottish students are being squeezed out in preference to students from England and overseas Nicol Stephen Deputy First Minister

Scottish National Party education spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop said the latest figures proved that the decision to increase some fees in Scotland last year was "misjudged".

"The fact that the increase in English students accepted by English universities is double that of English students accepted by Scottish universities shows Lib Dem fears of fee refugees flooding into Scotland due to English top-up tuition fees were misplaced," said Ms Hyslop.

"False fears of fee refugees have led to massive hikes in tuition fees throughout Scotland, which has fundamentally changed university funding."

However, Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen dismissed claims that Scottish students were being forced out.

"I want to monitor this situation closely," he said.

"Obviously acceptance figures will vary slightly year to year, but there must be no suggestion that Scottish students are being squeezed out in preference to students from England and overseas.

"The number of Scots-domiciled acceptances to universities had risen steadily over the previous few years."