Numerous diversity scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge universities are inaccessible to white working-class students, as they prioritize ethnicity over socioeconomic background, according to a recent report.
At least a dozen financial aid schemes at the two institutions are designed to support under-represented groups, but the majority exclude white students. This comes at a time when white working-class students are identified as one of the least likely demographic groups to attend university. An independent inquiry earlier this week found that England's education system is not structured to support white working-class youngsters, who exhibit the weakest educational outcomes among all major ethnic groups in the country. The report, led by former education secretary Baroness Morris of Yardley, indicated that only one-third of white working-class teenagers achieved at least a pass in English and mathematics GCSEs.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson stated that this group does not 'lack talent' but has been 'written off' and 'robbed of opportunity.' Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott has called for a shift away from identity-based preferences, advocating that support should be directed toward the most disadvantaged individuals, irrespective of their race or ethnicity, rather than serving diversity, equity, and inclusion targets.
Among the scholarship programs at Oxford and Cambridge are those for students from ethnic minority backgrounds. For instance, Cambridge's Stormzy Scholarship, established in 2018, provides £20,000 annually to ten Black students for the duration of their studies. The university also offers a Formula 1 scholarship for engineering students who are female or from an ethnic minority background, also with an annual award of £20,000. Additionally, Cambridge has six schemes specifically for PhD and master's students from ethnic minorities. Oxford's offerings include the Black Academic Futures scholarship, which can cover full course costs and some living expenses for students from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Sources indicate that out of all diversity schemes at Oxbridge, white working-class women are eligible for only two, while white working-class men are eligible for just one. The universities also run at least 15 outreach programs aimed at ethnic minority students, including taster days and webinars.
A 2019 report by the National Education Opportunities Network found that fewer than 3 percent of students enrolled at Oxford and Cambridge were both disadvantaged and white.
In response, an Oxford spokesperson noted that the university offers a separate scheme, not based on diversity, providing an annual bursary of up to £6,150 to UK full-time undergraduates from lower-income families. The university stated that its undergraduate financial support package is determined by household income, without regard to ethnicity. They highlighted that their schemes have been expanded, with approximately one in four UK undergraduates, including many from white working-class backgrounds, receiving financial support totaling £10.4 million in 2025-26.
A Cambridge spokesperson commented that the university provides one of the most generous bursary support packages in the UK, with over £10 million available annually through the Cambridge Bursary Scheme for all students from low-income households. They confirmed that the university complies with the terms of the 2010 Equality Act.