1 in 4 18 year olds in Scotland are going to university
The entry rate is up last year
Scottish teenagers are now more likely to go to university than ever before.
One in four 18-year-olds have been placed on degree courses through Ucas this year, according to new data published by the admissions service.
The hikes come amid an overall fall in the numbers going to university this year, fuelled in part by a drop in older students and fewer coming to study in the UK from the EU.
The latest snapshot show that entry rates have risen every year since 2013, reaching the highest point recorded this year.
In Scotland, the entry rate for 18-year-olds is 25.5%, up 0.7 percentage points.
This means that around one in four Scottish teenagers of this age go to university.
But in Northern Ireland and Wales, entry rates have fallen slightly this year, and stand at 34.8% and 29.1% respectively.
This means that entry rates for both nations are higher than in Scotland, and for Northern Ireland, are also higher than England.
The report does note that in Scotland, a "substantial part'' of higher education is not included in Ucas figures, mainly courses that are provided by further education colleges.
This means that the entry rates for Scotland only cover students that have used Ucas.
Chris Hale, director of policy at vice-chancellors' group Universities UK, said: "Demand for university places remains strong, including from under-represented groups.
"Again this year, the proportion of 18-year-olds in the UK applying for university are at their highest ever levels.
"Going to university is still a huge benefit to individuals in terms of lifelong skills, earnings, and the experience of meeting people from all corners the world.''
The data also shows that more poorer students are going to university, with the entry rate for the most disadvantaged up by 0.8 percentage points to 19.6%, while the rate for the most advantaged students is up 0.7 percentage points to 46%.
"This bigger increase in entry rate among the most disadvantaged means that the gap in entry to higher education between the most advantaged and the most disadvantaged has reduced,'' Ucas said.
"This year, young people from the most advantaged parts of the UK are 2.3 times more likely to enter higher education than those from the most disadvantaged areas, down from 2.4 times more likely last year.''