Oxford accused of ‘social engineering’ over black students’ grades
The university was criticised by the Tories after figures showed it took a higher percentage of black applicants who fell short than their white counterparts
Nicola Woolcock
, Education Editor
Thursday October 23 2025, 9.00pm BST, The Times
Oxford University usually requires at least three grade As at A-level.The Tories have accused Oxford University of “social engineering” after figures showed that it took a far higher percentage of black students who fell short with their A-level grades than white ones.Sixteen per cent of black UK undergraduates accepted in the past five years did not achieve their required grades, compared with 6 per cent for white British candidates and 2 per cent for Chinese-heritage students living in Britain.Contextual offers normally take academic potential into account for those who have faced challenges, including going to lower-performing schools or growing up in more deprived homes.
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