More Scots are starting university this week compared to the same point last year, the Education Secretary said.
Michael Russell said preliminary figures show a 1.2% increase in the number of Scottish students accepted to university in Scotland.
This contrasts with dropping numbers in other parts of the UK. The final set of Ucas figures will be published in December.
"The fact that we have increasing numbers of young Scots going into higher education while numbers have fallen dramatically elsewhere in the UK vindicates our decision to uphold Scotland's long-standing principle of education being based on the ability to learn and not the ability to pay," said Mr Russell.
The Education Secretary said the Government intends to introduce legislation that will support more young people from deprived areas choosing to go to university.
This year will be the first time English higher education institutions are able to charge students up to £9,000 a year for tuition fees, repaid through graduate contributions after university.
