University 'penny-pinching' over free period products
Under the Period Products Act 2021, local authorities and education providers are legally required to make period products available free of charge
- Published
Edinburgh University has been accused of "penny-pinching" after it reduced the availability of free period products at one of its busiest sites.
The university has removed free sanitary products from a number of toilets at its main library on George Square, where they have been replaced with signs pointing users to places where they are available.
The items are now available in toilets on just three of the building's eight floors, whereas previously they were available on at least six.
The university said it would remain in line with Scottish government guidelines, upholding its commitment to "equality, dignity and inclusion".
Financial challenges
It is understood the products have also been removed from a number of toilets at sites elsewhere in the university.
The university is currently working to cut its budget by £140m to address what principal Prof Sir Peter Mathieson has described as "serious and urgent financial challenges".
Under the Period Products Act 2021, local authorities and education providers are legally required to make period products available free of charge, as and when they are required.
An email sent to staff based at the main library said the act does not mean the items have to be available "in every toilet in every building in Scotland".
The main library is the university's largest library, and has study space for more than 2,400 students as well as a number of staff offices.
Sophia Woodman, president of the Edinburgh University and College Union branch committee, described the move as "penny-pinching".
"Staff have been repeatedly told that a reduction in the salaries of the highest paid, including the VC who earns above £400k per year, would have a negligible impact on reaching management's targets to reduce the university's expenditure in the current cost-cutting exercise," she said.
"Now we see penny-pinching like this, which hits the poorest staff and students the hardest."
The University of Edinburgh has removed free sanitary products from a number of toilets at its main library on George Square
Last year the university received £132,250 from a ring-fenced government fund to support the provision of free period products at colleges and universities - more than any other university in Scotland.
In 2025-26 the funding ceased to be ring-fenced, and was instead added to the core grant provided to colleges and universities.
An Edinburgh University spokesperson said: "The university is proud to provide free and convenient access to period products in buildings across our campus.
"In all cases, we will remain in line with Scottish government guidelines, upholding our commitment to equality, dignity and inclusion."
Syjil Ramjuthan, Edinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) vice president of welfare, said: "Unfortunately, despite campaigning from student representatives and leaders towards the end of the previous academic year, the university took the decision to reduce its provision."