Glasgow School of Art tops Scotland for student retention

Glasgow School of Art as it was before being destroyed by fire. Image: Colin Mearns

The report also found that 22.9% of GSA’s 2024/25 student intake came from Scotland’s 20% most deprived areas, exceeding the national widening access target set for 2030.

The Commission on Widening Access aims for 20% of university entrants to come from the country’s most deprived backgrounds by the end of the decade.

GSA has met or exceeded that target every year since 2019/20.

The institution also ranked second in Scotland for graduation outcomes, with 20.9% of graduates in 2024/25 coming from the country’s most deprived areas – almost seven percentage points above the Scottish university average of 13.8%.

The Glasgow School of Art said its results reflect a range of widening access initiatives, including its National Schools Programme, a 15-week portfolio preparation course for secondary pupils, and progression partnerships with Glasgow Clyde College and Forth Valley College.

The Scottish Funding Council’s annual Widening Access report measures universities’ progress towards creating a more inclusive higher education sector.

Founded in 1845, The Glasgow School of Art is recognised internationally for visual creative education and is ranked eighth in the world and fifth in Europe in the 2026 QS World University Rankings.

Professor Penny Macbeth, director and principal of The Glasgow School of Art, said: “These figures are a powerful testament to the talent that exists in every community in Scotland.

“At the GSA, we have shown for over five years now that when you open doors to students from the most deprived backgrounds, they don’t just succeed – they lead.

“A 97% retention rate for students from our most disadvantaged areas, alongside exceeding our access target once again, sends a clear message that excellence and opportunity go hand in hand.”

Shona Paul, head of professional and continuing education at The Glasgow School of Art, said: “We believe that everyone should be able to fulfil their creative potential.

“The success of this commitment is reflected not only in the GSA surpassing the Scottish Government‘s 20% by 2030 target since 2019, widening access at the point of entry – we are sustaining that access right through to graduation.

“Being ranked first in Scotland for retention and second for those graduating shows that our support systems, from contextual admissions through to student support, are working.”