Ethnicity

Context

The following graphics provide context for Oxford’s figures, showing the BME share of the England and Wales population, the A-level achievement of BME students, and the proportion of BME students in different parts of the UK university sector.

Note: Figures for the 2021/22 academic year (2021 intake) are the most recent available from HESA and have therefore been used in these graphics. The most recent figures available for Oxford are for the 2023/24 academic year (2023 intake).

England and Wales population now aged 19 to 25*

Breakdown of students achieving AAA or better at A-level by ethnicity (all UK universities, 2021 UK intake)**

Breakdown of students at UK universities by ethnicity (2021 UK intake)**

Oxford University (2024 UK intake)***

*2021 UK census. Source: Office for National Statistics. Ethnic group by age and sex in England and Wales.
**Most recent available national data covers 2021 intake: defined as first-year, first-degree, UK-domiciled undergraduate students, academic year 2021/22. AAA+ pool includes equivalent Scottish qualifications. See note on HESA data for full citation.
***Excluding students whose ethnicity status is not declared.

University-level data

BME students

• The number of UK-domiciled BME applicants to Oxford has increased since 2020, as have the numbers of students receiving offers and being admitted.
• The proportion of UK-domiciled students admitted to Oxford who indicate in their UCAS application that they identify as BME has risen from 23.6% in 2020 to 30.8% in 2024.

UK-domiciled BME students: applications to Oxford, offers made and students admitted, 2020–2024

11. Excluding students whose ethnicity status is not declared.

Asian students

• Since 2020, applications from UK-domiciled Asian students have been increasing, as have offers received and students admitted.
• The proportion of UK-domiciled students admitted to Oxford who indicate in their UCAS application that they identify as Asian has risen from 9.6% in 2020 to 14.5% in 2024.

UK-domiciled Asian students: applications to Oxford, offers made and students admitted, 2020–2024

11. Excluding students whose ethnicity status is not declared. 

*Most recent available national data covers 2021 intake: defined as first-year, first-degree, UK-domiciled undergraduate students, academic year 2021/22. AAA+ pool includes equivalent Scottish qualifications. See note on HESA data for full citation.

Bangladeshi and Pakistani students

• Since 2020, the numbers of UK-domiciled Bangladeshi and Pakistani students applying to Oxford, being made offers and being admitted have risen.
• The proportion of UK-domiciled students admitted to Oxford who indicate in their UCAS application that they identify as Bangladeshi or Pakistani rose from 2.0% in 2020 to 3.2% in 2024.

Note: Within the British Asian group, Bangladeshi and Pakistani students are considered underrepresented at highly selective universities, hence their inclusion as a separate group at University level in this report.

UK-domiciled Bangladeshi and Pakistani students: applications to Oxford, offers made and students admitted, 2020–2024

11. Excluding students whose ethnicity status is not declared. 

*Most recent available national data covers 2021 intake: defined as first-year, first-degree, UK-domiciled undergraduate students, academic year 2021/22. AAA+ pool includes equivalent Scottish qualifications. See note on HESA data for full citation.

Students with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage¹²

• The numbers of UK-domiciled students with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage applying to Oxford, receiving offers and being admitted have increased from 2021 to 2024.
• The proportion of UK-domiciled students admitted to Oxford who indicate in their UCAS application that they identify as Black has risen from 3.7% in 2020 to 3.8% in 2024.

UK-domiciled students with Black African or Black Caribbean heritage: applications to Oxford, offers made and students admitted, 2020–2024

11. Excluding students whose ethnicity status is not declared. 

*Most recent available national data covers 2021 intake: defined as first-year, first-degree, UK-domiciled undergraduate students, academic year 2021/22. AAA+ pool includes equivalent Scottish qualifications. See note on HESA data for full citation.

Mixed Heritage students

• The number of UK-domiciled Mixed Heritage applicants to Oxford has risen since 2020, as have the numbers of students receiving offers.
• The proportion of UK-domiciled students admitted to Oxford who indicate in their UCAS application that they identify as Mixed Heritage rose from 8.8% in 2020 to 10.0% in 2024.

UK-domiciled Mixed Heritage students: applications to Oxford, offers made and students admitted, 2020–2024

11. Excluding students whose ethnicity status is not declared. 

*Most recent available national data covers 2021 intake: defined as first-year, first-degree, UK-domiciled undergraduate students, academic year 2021/22. AAA+ pool includes equivalent Scottish qualifications. See note on HESA data for full citation.

**National data does not include Mixed ethnicity as a separate category; it only provides ‘other including Mixed’ where ‘other’ includes all ethnicities that do not fall into any subcategories of White, Asian or Black ethnic groups.