Planning and Policy

We help the University look ahead, make informed choices, and stay resilient in a changing higher education landscape. By combining specialist expertise with trusted data, we provide the insight and planning that supports colleagues across the institution.

Our Recruitment and Admissions work brings together market intelligence and tailored reporting to answer two vital questions: who is choosing us, and how are we supporting them through the admissions journey? From analysing long-term recruitment trends in increasingly volatile markets to tracking in-cycle admissions performance, we deliver insight that shapes decisions across the University. This work also helps us understand and strengthen the University’s commitment to widening access.

Through our Strategic Planning work, we connect ambition with action, especially relating to the size and shape of the institution. Working in partnership with Finance and others, we support the annual planning and budgeting cycle, shape the resource allocation model, and contribute to projects that are strategically important for the University’s future.

We also act as the University’s voice in wider policy discussions. By engaging with the Scottish Government, the Scottish Funding Council, and the Office for Students, we influence how policy is developed and implemented. Leading the University’s Outcome Agreement process and coordinating responses to consultations ensures that our perspectives and priorities are heard nationally.

Above all, our role is to provide trusted insight that colleagues can rely on. Whether it’s helping the University plan for the future, understand its applicants, or navigate national policy, we bring together expertise and evidence to support the decisions that matter most.