The rich are still more likely to attend top universities

Students from the richest neighbourhoods in England are 10 times more likely to get places at the top 13 universities then those from the poorest.

A data analysis of university acceptances for 2012/13 by the Independent Commission of Fees has also found that working class boys are “becoming increasingly less likely to go to university” when compared to working class girls.

Total acceptances to UK universities fell from 431,000 in 2011 to 407,391 in 2012 – a drop of 23,844 or 5.5 per cent. The 2012 figures are also 4.1 per cent down on 2010.

The study found that acceptances to the top 13 universities rose in 2012 compared to the decline elsewhere. However, while admissions to the top 13 universities from the fifth most advantaged neighbourhoods rose by 4.7 per cent, those from the fifth poorest neighbourhoods fell by 0.1 per cent.