Figures show that 15.6 per cent of new students at Scottish universities in 2017/18 were from the most deprived areas, a rise of about a fifth over the last five years.
This is just below a target of 16 per cent for 2021 and 20 per cent by 2030.
Last year the overall number of Scottish students enrolling in the country’s universities also rose, by 3.2 per cent to 104,520.
Richard Lochhead, minister for higher education, said: “These statistics highlight the good progress being made on widening access to higher education.
“I’m pleased to see more Scots going to university here and a record increase in entrants from our most deprived areas.
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