'Racist' University of Edinburgh gives priority to local applicants

A Scottish university has been accused of racism after it said that it would give priority to applicants from Scotland and the far North of England for its most popular courses.



March 20, 2010

Richard Cairns, the head teacher at Brighton College, a leading independent school, said that the University of Edinburgh was rejecting well-qualified students because of where they lived. At Brighton College, 25 of the 27 who applied to Edinburgh were rejected, even though more than half of those seeking places at other leading universities were successful. Mr Cairns said: "I think it is outrageous that any university should discriminate against young people because of where they live. Scotland used to have a proud tradition of looking outwards and attracting some of the greatest international minds to its universities. Edinburgh has opted to turn in on itself and in a manner that strikes me as potentially both illegal and racist. I know how sixth-formers in Edinburgh would feel if Oxford University had a policy of favouring students from the South East applying for popular subject areas. They would be outraged. Yet for a Scottish university to act in this narrow-minded manner is somehow acceptable to the authorities of Edinburgh University."

Read more: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/education/article7068993.ece