Diversity scheme to support disadvantaged students ‘undermines’ Oxford’s integrity, claim professors

A diversity scheme which aims to increase the number of students from under-represented backgrounds at Oxford has been criticised by some professors for ‘undermining’ the university’s academic reputation.

The Opportunity Oxford scheme currently reserves 1 in 10 undergraduate places for disadvantaged students, equating to 220 students in the upcoming academic year.

This number is forecast to rise to 280 by 2028, with students awarded a place through the scheme making up almost 8.5% of the 3,300-strong Oxford undergraduate population.

The scheme has raised concerns among some academics over whether the academic capabilities of students admitted through Opportunity Oxford are being overlooked for the sake of inclusivity.

I have known students admitted under this scheme who could not write essays in grammatical English, something previously unknown in my experience

Oxford college don

One associate professor involved in admissions at Oxford claimed that the scheme “exists to undercut standards” and “undermines the integrity of the university as a centre of academic excellence”.

A don involved with admissions said: “I have known students admitted under this scheme who could not write essays in grammatical English, something previously unknown in my experience among Oxford undergraduates.”

An admissions tutor has also expressed concern that less suitable students are being admitted by the scheme in place of high academic achievers who would otherwise meet Oxford’s standards.

Chris McGovern, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, a right-wing pressure group which advocates for traditional education, has also weighed in on the debate, speculating that “well-intentioned but misguided policymakers are placing diversity, equality and inclusion above academic ability”.

He added that, if other universities choose to follow suit, the action would “dumb down educational standards and as a consequence dumb down the economy”.

Supporters of the scheme, however, have celebrated the inclusivity that it promotes with less privileged students given the opportunity to fulfil their potential at the world’s top university, as named by Times Higher Education.

The university has stressed that the scheme does not undermine Oxford’s competitive application process, which is known as one of the most rigorous in the world

Such students, according to the university’s website, may come from minority ethic backgrounds, areas of low socio-economic development, or have other identities that would otherwise make high-quality further education less accessible.

One in five Oxford students, for example, have a disability, a number which has risen in recent years as a result of the university’s diversity policies.

The university has stressed that the scheme does not undermine Oxford’s competitive application process, which is known as one of the most rigorous in the world. Instead, it seeks to support the recruitment of the highest level students from all backgrounds and boost the fairness of student opportunity for all.

The scheme acts as an “academic programme” for offer-holders from disadvantaged backgrounds to access before enrolment, involving an online course intended to develop academic skills and “support students in their transition from school or college to our university”.

A spokesperson for the university said that all Oxford offer-holders go through the same process and “must meet the same conditional offers”, and that the scheme promotes “equality of opportunity for all talented students”.