The clear-cut majority for devolution in the Scottish referendum, which will pave the way for the revival of a Scottish Parliament after almost three centuries, will lead to far-reaching consequences for the pattern of higher education in Scotland. This article addresses those consequences and is divided into three sections. The first discusses the wider Scottish context and, in particular, the past and present impact of the Union (and likely future impact of devolution) on the distinctiveness of Scotland's social institutions, including education; the second the development of mass higher education, and of new articulations between universities and culture, innovation and competitiveness; and the third prospects for Scotland's universities and colleges within a redefined Union. The first two sections provide the context for a more extended discussion of the third.