Dr Vikki Boliver

negative stereotypes about black students, it might be that they have unconscious thoughts about whether somebody will fit in the environment which of course Oxford University is quite a white socially elite environment.

"These things might be at the back of people’s mind not consciously or unconsciously.

"Part of unconscious basis is that we tend to gravitate towards and unconsciously prefer people who are like us so it’s quite possible that to a degree these admissions tutors are recruiting in their own image because they have very positive associations with the people who like them.

"It’s still the case that the vast majority of tutors are white middle to upper-middle class British, so the values that are celebrated there and that are appreciated there are relatively narrow and its harder I think for those institutions to value other cultures. And other contributions but clearly they need to do it."

Dr Vicki Boliver from Durham University carried out the research into Oxford and other top universities admissions data she believes it reveals an inherent bias within the university's admissions process.

The disparity in operates suggests that black students are being turned away in greater numbers than white students even when they’re very well qualified to enter these Universities. I think that unconscious bias is likely to be playing a role here.

"Unconscious bias describes the stereotypes that exist in our society about different social groups, different genders, different ethnic groups that are reached and all of us hold the potential for this to creep into decision-making. Admissions tutors might have in the back of their minds

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