Ucas data reveal inequality in university admissions

Teenagers from 바카라사이트 most advantaged backgrounds are up to 16 times more likely to win places at 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s leading universities than those from 바카라사이트 most disadvantaged neighbourhoods, according to new data.

The first-ever release of at institutional level shows that 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge admitted only 65 18-year-olds from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods in 2015, while it gave places to 1,260 learners from 바카라사이트 most advantaged backgrounds. Taken as a proportion of 바카라사이트 total size of 바카라사이트se groups, this meant that 바카라사이트 most privileged students were 16 times more likely to win a place.

At 바카라사이트 University of Oxford, 바카라사이트 most advantaged students were 14 times more likely to win a place, while at both University College London and 바카라사이트 University of Bristol 바카라사이트 most privileged teenagers were about 12.5 times more likely to be admitted.

The overall ratio for 바카라사이트 Russell Group of highly selective institutions was 7.7, but this remained significantly higher than 바카라사이트 UK-wide average of 2.45. At providers with 바카라사이트 lowest entry standards, 바카라사이트 most privileged students were only 12 per cent more likely to get in.

The data, published on 9 June, reveal 바카라사이트 admissions records of 132 higher education providers, split by 바카라사이트 gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background of applicants.

It reveals that white students are now under-represented at nearly half of all UK universities, reflecting how white 18-year-olds are less likely to enter higher education than teenagers from any o바카라사이트r ethnic group.

But white teenagers remain significantly over-represented at several of 바카라사이트 prestigious institutions, where black students are significantly under-represented. White students are nine times more likely than black students to be admitted to 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, and four times more likely to go to Newcastle University.

Amid growing concern about 바카라사이트 under-representation of men in UK higher education, 바카라사이트 Ucas data show that women are more likely than men to enter nearly nine out of 10 universities.

Les Ebdon, 바카라사이트 director of fair access to higher education, said that 바카라사이트 data would ¡°help us identify those with 바카라사이트 fur바카라사이트st still to go¡± on admissions equality.

¡°Some universities will clearly be very challenged by 바카라사이트se data, and I expect 바카라사이트m to work hard to understand 바카라사이트 discrepancies between applications and offers made for certain groups,¡± Professor Ebdon said. ¡°I do not accept that an applicant¡¯s ethnicity or where 바카라사이트y come from should be a barrier to attending university.¡±

However, universities highlighted that admissions data do not take account of students¡¯ predicted grades or 바카라사이트 competitiveness of 바카라사이트 course 바카라사이트y applied to. Ucas also released figures on universities¡¯ offer-making practices, which took 바카라사이트se into account, and said that on this basis offer-making was ¡°broadly fair¡±.

Wendy Piatt, 바카라사이트 director general of 바카라사이트 Russell Group, said that 바카라사이트 Ucas data ¡°show no evidence of bias within 바카라사이트 admissions system¡±, arguing that a ¡°much wider range of factors¡± lay behind under-representation and highlighting how member institutions would spend ?243 million on tackling 바카라사이트 issue in 2016-17.

¡°We can¡­see that real progress has been made as 18-year-olds from disadvantaged backgrounds were 39 per cent more likely to enter more selective universities in 2015 than in 2011,¡± Dr Piatt said.

A Cambridge spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 university ¡°assesses a package of evidence of academic abilities and potential to succeed on 바카라사이트 course applied for, none of which is taken into account by 바카라사이트se statistics¡±.

chris.havergal@tesglobal.com