Home UK Where youre from will determine what university course youre likely to take

Where youre from will determine what university course youre likely to take

May 22, 2018

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Where you're from will determine what university course you're likely to take — Where youre from will determine what university course youre likely to take (Picture: PA)

Theres a North-South divide that exits among courses students are being accepted on to at university.

Ucas figures revealed those living in the north of the country were less likely to be made an offer for subjects like medicine, dentistry, business and mathematical sciences, which often lead to high-flying careers.

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A PA investigation showed last year 245 students from the North East (4% of all acceptances for the subject) started courses in medicine and dentistry, compared to 1,585 London students (24%).

The gap was even bigger for business and administration, with students in the North East making up only 3% of acceptances (1,445 students), compared to 28% (12,645 students) from London.

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BRISTOL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 14: Students at the Winterbourne International Academy react as they open their A-level results on August 14, 2014 in South Gloucestershire, near Bristol, England. Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland students were receiving their A-level results this morning and for the first time in over 30 years there has been a slight fall in the pass rate. However, there is now a record number of university places available and some students may still get their places even if they did not get the grades. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images) — Those in the North East are less likely to be accepted on to courses that normally lead to high-flying jobs (Picture: Getty Images)

If you were planning on taking a mathematical sciences degree in the North East it was also tougher, with 190 acceptances compared 1,520 from the capital.

Students from the capital were also more likely to be accepted on to courses in languages and social studies.

Some of the differences could be put down to the fact London has three times as many adults but some activists argued it showed more had to be done to help students in the North East.

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Sir Peter Lampl, founder of the Sutton Trust, a social mobility charity, said: These figures paint a worrying picture of a consistent and pervasive regional divide in access to university.

Talent isnt dependent on where you grow up, so its just not right that your chances of studying certain subjects at university are

We have to do more to widen opportunities for talented teenagers in areas like the North East to access our best universities.

He suggested universities should start taking into consideration an applicants background before accepting them on to a course.

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University students graduating at Bath Abbey. — Londoners are more likely to be accepted on to certain courses (Picture: Getty Images)

In total 16,420 students from the North East were accepted on to courses last year, compared to 81,385 from the capital.

A Department for Education spokeswoman admitted there was more to do and said the government was trying to tackle the problem.

She added: Universities should be open for everyone with the talent and potential, regardless of their background or where they live.

We know there is more to do. Thats why the Office for Students has introduced a national programme giving £120m to 29 projects working in areas where there are low levels of young people going onto higher education.

The government has also launched a Northern Powerhouse Schools Strategy, and committed £70m to improving school performance in the north.

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