Scottish universities have been gifted nearly £100 million in donations over the last three years with more than a third coming from former students.
University chiefs welcomed the donations but suggested funding needed to be more like the US system where graduates routinely donate to their old stomping ground.
But critics said donations should not be “expected” and to ask students who are affected by increasing levels of debt.
Edinburgh University accounts for nearly half of all donated cash, with Glasgow University receiving just under £20m. St Andrews University said it has only received around £15m.
A freedom of information request to all of Scotland’s 17 universities showed the total sum of donations was £95,080,550.96. Edinburgh University was gifted a total of £43.7m, Glasgow received £19.1m and St Andrews was handed £15.6m.
Dundee, Heriot Watt and Napier were gifted £5m, £3m and £2m respectively in the last three years, while Stirling and Glasgow Caledonian universities both received £1.4m.
Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen was given £1m in handouts and Highlands and Islands, Abertay, Queen Margaret and University of the West of Scotland all claimed to have received donations below £1m.
All contributions were made through private individuals, alumni, charitable organisations, business groups or other bodies.