1st January 2016 1:00
By Blue Tutors
New figures for university entry have shown that women are 35% more likely to go to university than men, the widest gap in this direction ever. According to the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS), those most likely to win places at university are women, those from London, those from affluent backgrounds and non-white students. White male students from poor backgrounds are the least likely group to attend university. UCAS has calculated that there would be an additional 36,000 male students at university if they entered at the same rate as female students.
UCAS has revealed that record numbers of students have entered university this year, with 532,300 students beginning courses this autumn. However, there are significant disparities, with those from London 40% more likely to enter university than those in the south west or north east of the country, in addition to the gender gap. One of the key reasons for the increase in students is that the government has lifted the cap on student numbers, meaning that it is easier for students with lower grades to enter university. At top universities, 26% of students won places with grades at ABB or below, whilst across the country the number of students receiving unconditional offers rose sharply to 23,400. This suggests that, with the lifting of the cap on student numbers, universities are anxious to increase their revenues from tuition fees.
UCAS chief Mary Curnock Cook said that white males from disadvantaged backgrounds should be the focus of access and outreach efforts. She commented that UCAS had previously highlighted a widening gender gap between women and men at university, and that the latest figures showed that young men, especially those from poor white backgrounds, are falling further behind. Overall the gap between the rich and poor winning places at university has reduced, but the improvements have not been equal. Significant improvements in the number of applications have been made in London and amongst girls from poor white backgrounds, but the gap between boys and girls entering universities continues to widen.