Record levels of state-school students accepted at Cambridge university

The University of Cambridge will welcome record numbers of students from low participation and deprived neighbourhoods, and state schools this academic year.

One in four students at Cambridge will be from under-represented and disadvantaged backgrounds in the 2019/20 intake, while over two-thirds of UK undergraduates will be from state schools, according to provisional data.

The success of Cambridge’s UCAS Adjustment scheme pilot this year has contributed to the rise in underrepresented students being admitted.

The University of Cambridge is also developing a range of measures to widen access and help students make the most of their experience including enhanced and extended bursaries for those in financial need and the introduction of a Transition Year programme, the Course Director for which was appointed last week.

Director of Admissions for the Colleges at the University of Cambridge Dr Sam Lucy said: “We have been exploring different ways to identify talented students who will thrive on our courses and help to make our student population truly representative of the UK population; this has included challenging false perceptions that put off applicants.

“It is deeply encouraging to see that our actions to provide educational opportunity for all those who have the potential to study here are paying off.”