White working-class students are effectively excluded from nearly all diversity scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge universities, according to recent findings. More than a dozen financial aid programs designed for under-represented groups at the two institutions prioritize ethnic background over socioeconomic standing, a situation that critics argue goes against the principle of supporting the most disadvantaged.
This exclusion comes despite an independent inquiry that identified the education system as failing white working-class youngsters in England, who demonstrate the weakest educational outcomes among major ethnic groups. The report, led by former education secretary Baroness Morris of Yardley, noted that only one-third of white working-class teenagers achieved a pass in both English and maths at GCSE level. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has previously stated that this group has been "written off" and "robbed of opportunity."
Laura Trott, Shadow Education Secretary, commented on social media platform X that "Support should be targeted at the most disadvantaged, regardless of their race or ethnicity, not to satisfy diversity, equity and inclusion targets or quotas." She advocated for a shift away from identity-based preferences.
At Oxford and Cambridge, there are at least 15 scholarships and bursaries available to undergraduate, master's, and PhD students from ethnic minority backgrounds. Examples include the Stormzy Scholarship at Cambridge, which provides £20,000 annually to 10 Black students, and a Formula 1 scholarship for engineering students at Cambridge who are female or from an ethnic minority. Oxford's Black Academic Futures scholarship can cover full course costs and some living expenses for ethnic minority students.
It is understood that only two such diversity schemes at these universities are accessible to white working-class women, and just one to white working-class men. Both institutions also run outreach programs, including taster days and webinars, specifically for ethnic minority students.
A 2019 report by the National Education Opportunities Network indicated that fewer than 3 percent of students enrolled at Oxford and Cambridge were both disadvantaged and white.
In response to concerns about financial support, an Oxford spokesperson stated that the university offers a separate scheme, not based on diversity, providing an annual bursary of up to £6,150 for UK undergraduates from lower-income families. This financial aid is awarded based on household income, irrespective of ethnicity. The university has expanded its financial support schemes, with approximately one in four UK undergraduates receiving assistance totaling £10.4 million in the 2025-26 academic year, including many students from white working-class backgrounds.
A Cambridge spokesperson highlighted that the university offers one of the most generous bursary packages in the UK, with over £10 million available annually through the Cambridge Bursary Scheme for all students from low-income households. The university affirmed its adherence to the terms of the 2010 Equality Act.