Why are white working-class pupils underperforming in UK universities?

According to the article, the underperformance of white students is partly driven by those from low-income families, with only 3% of these pupils making it into the most selective "high-tariff" universities.

How do the university admission rates of ethnic minority students compare to white students in the UK?

The data shows that 12.1% of black pupils, 15.5% of mixed-race students, and 18.6% of Asians are attending the highest-ranking third of universities by age 19, compared to only 11.7% of white pupils.

What has the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson pledged to do to address the issue?

Phillipson has stated that making raising standards for white working-class pupils a priority is a "national disgrace" and that too many are "written off" at school and fail to achieve their potential.

Home / Education / White Students Lag Behind Ethnic Minorities in Top UK University Admissions

White Students Lag Behind Ethnic Minorities in Top UK University Admissions

17 Aug

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Summary

Only 11.7% of white pupils attend top-tier universities by age 19
12.1% of black, 15.5% mixed-race, and 18.6% Asian pupils attend top universities
3% of white students from low-income families enter 'high-tariff' universities

White Students Lag Behind Ethnic Minorities in Top UK University Admissions

According to the latest data from the Department for Education, white pupils in the UK continue to lag behind their ethnic minority peers in gaining admission to the country's top universities. As of 2025-08-18T00:57:07+00:00, only 11.7% of white students were attending the highest-ranking third of universities by the age of 19, compared to 12.1% of black pupils, 15.5% of mixed-race students, and 18.6% of Asians.

The underperformance of white students is particularly pronounced among those from low-income families, with a mere 3% of these pupils making it into the most selective "high-tariff" universities. This disparity has prompted Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to pledge making the improvement of standards for white working-class students a priority.

Experts suggest the strong academic performance of ethnic minority students may be partly attributed to their understanding of the crucial role education plays in achieving social mobility, in contrast to some white British youth who have grown accustomed to state support. The data also indicates that students with a migrant background are more likely to enter university compared to their native English-speaking peers.

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