Equality in admissions

Oxford University has stated that it is ‘deeply concerned with ensuring its selection process is fair’ after The Guardian Newspaper published figures that indicated institutional bias during admissions. These included success rates of applicants to the University by subject and ethnicity. How do you ensure that your admissions process is fair and equitable? What do you monitor?

Analysis of the figures at Oxford University showed no statistically significant differences in success rates for white or ethnic minority students for law. However, for medicine, economics and management courses, white students were twice as likely to receive an offer.

Oxford University told The Guardian that they are investigating to identity possible explanations for the differences in success rates, and are deeply concerned with ensuring their selection process is fair. They rejected any suggestion of discrimination or institutional bias in relation to ethnicity.

You can read the newspaper article here

You can read the University of Oxford response here