Oxford and Cambridge universities should set up new colleges to boost number of disadvantaged students, report suggests

'Other institutions have expanded their undergraduate numbers far more than the two Oxbridge institutions have done'

Cambridge University library (PA)

Oxford and Cambridge should set up new colleges to boost the number of students from disadvantaged backgrounds at the prestigious universities, a report suggests.

The foundation of new Oxbridge colleges could open up the highly selective institutions to more students from underrepresented groups, the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) has said.

Nick Hillman, director of HEPI, has put forward the idea in a paper of recommendations for the new universities regulator, the Office for Students (OfS), on how to widen access in the sector.

The new report, from HEPI and charity Brightside, said only a small number of universities do the “heavy lifting” when it comes to increasing the number of disadvantaged students, while the “access gap remains stubbornly wide at many of the most selective institutions”.

It comes after Cambridge and Oxford were named in the top five most unequal universities in Britain for admitting students from different economic backgrounds in HEPI’s rankings.

In the paper, Mr Hillman wrote: “In recent decades, other institutions have expanded their undergraduate numbers far more than the two Oxbridge institutions have done.

“If existing colleges are reluctant to increase their undergraduate entry, then it is time to consider founding a number of entirely new Oxbridge colleges to boost the number of students from underrepresented groups at our oldest, richest and most prestigious universities.”

Last year, figures from Labour MP David Lammy revealed that 13 Oxford University colleges failed to make a single offer to black A-level applicants over a six-year period.

And figures for Cambridge University revealed that for each of the six years, on average, a quarter of colleges failed to make any offers to black British applicants.

Other proposals made to Chris Millward – the new director for fair access and participation at the OfS – in the paper include looking again at post-qualification admissions, granting more fee waivers for asylum seekers and delivering mandatory unconscious bias training for staff.

“People from rich households are more likely to reach the most prestigious institutions, white working class boys rarely make it to higher education and there is a big black attainment gap.

“Groups like disabled students, LGBT+ students and refugees all face barriers in meeting their potential. The time for woolly ideas is over,” Mr Hillman said.

In response to the paper from key figures in the higher education sector, Mr Millward said: “I am pleased to see that many of the issues given priority are ones that I am already addressing in my guidance to universities and colleges.

“For example, despite the progress made in access and participation for some groups, there are still wide gaps for mature students, for white males from the lowest income groups, and at the universities with the highest admissions requirements.

“And when students do enter higher education, certain groups also face real barriers to succeeding during and after their studies, particularly black and Asian students and those with disabilities.

“I have made it clear to universities and colleges that I expect them to address these issues in their access and participation plans, which the OfS must approve if they wish to charge higher tuition fees.”

An Oxford University spokeswoman said: “There are no plans to expand overall undergraduate numbers or create new colleges.

“Neither would be a straightforward process: Oxford is made up of around 40 colleges and permanent private halls which already face major accommodation and other resource challenges.

“There are already many other college and university initiatives which are expanding the number of students from underrepresented backgrounds.”