Cambridge and Oxford among worst universities in UK for socio-economic equality, report reveals

‘We do not have an educational level playing field,’ says the vice chancellor of Anglia Ruskin University

Seven Russell Group universities were ranked among the 10 most unequal institutions (PA)

Cambridge is the most unequal university in Britain for admitting students from different economic backgrounds, according to new rankings.

A report, published by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI), ranked the University of Hull as the best performing institution for admitting a balanced intake of rich and poor students.

Some of the country’s most prestigious universities – such as St Andrew’s, Bristol, Durham and Aberdeen – were also placed in the bottom 10 of the table. Oxford was fourth worst.

The rankings are based on Participation of Local Areas (Polar) data – which divides neighbourhoods into five groups according to the proportion of young people making it to university.

The University of Hull takes almost exactly a fifth of its students from each group, said HEPI.

Nick Hillman, director of HEPI, said: “This analysis reveals which universities reflect wider society best, and those which have further to travel.”

He added that learning outcomes were better when students from diverse backgrounds studied alongside each other.

“On these sorts of issues, policymaking on schools can sometimes seem ahead of what goes on in the university sector,” Mr Hillman said.

The HEPI director added: “The best way to deliver fairer access to selective institutions is the same as the best way to deliver widening participation overall, which is to provide more places.”

Of the top 10 most unequal institutions, Russell Group universities accounted for seven places.

On widening participation among students, Iain Martin, Anglia Ruskin University vice chancellor and report author, said: “It remains that we do not have an educational level playing field.”

A University of Cambridge spokesman said: “Widening participation in higher education is a complex issue and we welcome different interpretations of the data.

“We would note, however, that Polar, the single measure upon which this analysis is based, takes no account of factors such as household income, access to education and socio-economic background, all of which have a profound bearing on a student’s likelihood of applying to university.”

Top 10 universities for class equality

1. Hull

2. Derby

3. Edge Hill

4. Chester

5. Plymouth College of Art

6. York St John

7. Leeds Beckett

8. Worcester

9. Anglia Ruskin

10. Cardiff Metropolitan

Bottom 10 universities for class equality

1. Cambridge

2. St Andrews

3. Bristol

4. Oxford

5. Aberdeen

6. Edinburgh

7. University College London

8. Durham

9. Robert Gordon University

10. London School of Economics and Political Science