RECORD numbers of Scots have secured a university place in England despite having to pay fees of up to £9000.

New figures show 1,520 Scottish students have secured a place at a university in England compared to 1,380 the previous year - a ten per cent rise.

The unexpected increase comes after Chancellor George Osborne announced last year that a cap on the numbers of students England’s universities can admit was to be lifted in 2015.

The change means universities have been able to expand further with the potential to admit an additional 30,000 students in the first year.

The increase also comes at a time when the number of Scots trying to secure a place at a Scottish university has reached record levels in the wake of rising Higher results.

A spokesman for Universities Scotland, which represents university principals, welcomed the increase.

He said: “Scotland’s universities consider the cross border flows of students, in both directions, to be very positive, so it is welcome to see a rise in the number of Scots taking up higher education places in England at this stage.

“This year saw a record a number of Scots applying to university and since Higher results day we have seen a record number accepting a Scottish university place.

“However, demand for places continues to outstrip supply so it is encouraging to see that students are considering all the options available to them.”

Universities Scotland said the rise may also be because students were getting used to the idea of paying fees south of the Border.

The spokesman added: “This year’s rise might indicate that students now have a better understanding that tuition fees do not have to be paid upfront and loans are available.”

Vonnie Sandlan, president of student body NUS Scotland, said it was encouraging to see a record year of Scottish students going to university across the UK.

She added: “These latest figures show that Scottish students going to England have recovered from the year before the disastrous introduction of £9,000 fees.

“Clearly Scotland remains the first choice for the vast majority of Scottish students, but we want to see all students with the potential to succeed at university have the opportunity.

“If any increase in the number of Scottish students is as a result of the uncapping of student numbers in England then we’ll need to do all we can in Scotland to ensure we continue to increase the number of places available here.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives said the figures published by university and college admissions body Ucas showed Scotland was lagging significantly behind the rest of the UK in widening access to students from poorer backgrounds.

However, the SNP hit back arguing the figures showed a significant increase in poorer pupils going to university since 2011.

The Ucas figures show in Scotland fewer than ten per cent of the most deprived pupils get accepted to university, compared to more than three times that number from the richest parts.