One in five university students is from a poor background as number of underprivileged youngsters in further education reaches record 20 per cent

  • Almost 26,000 freshers from poor families have a university place, figures show
  • UCAS says the gap between the most and least advantaged is ‘narrowing’
  • For the first time, 20.4 per cent (25,910) from the least affluent backgrounds have confirmed places, according to UCAS, up from 19.4 per cent

The number of students from poor backgrounds going to university this year has reached a record 20 per cent, figures show.

Almost 26,000 freshers from deprived families have a place, with the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) saying the gap between the most and least advantaged is ‘narrowing’.

It comes amid pressure on universities to admit more disadvantaged students. 

For the first time, 20.4 per cent (25,910) from the least affluent backgrounds have confirmed places, according to UCAS.

For the first time, 20.4 per cent (25,910) from the least affluent backgrounds have confirmed places, according to UCAS (stock image)

For the first time, 20.4 per cent (25,910) from the least affluent backgrounds have confirmed places, according to UCAS (stock image)

It comes amid pressure on universities to admit more disadvantaged students (stock image)

It comes amid pressure on universities to admit more disadvantaged students (stock image)

This is up from 19.4 per cent this time last year and 13.2 per cent in 2010.

Professor Alan Smithers, of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said: ‘It’s good news if those admitted genuinely have the ability. 

'But the fear is that universities are under so much pressure to recruit a representative intake that they may be lowering the entry grades required.’