Facing the Facts
Misleading media coverage and the persistence of negative stereotypes continue to dog Oxford's attempts to attract ethnic minority students, according to exclusive research conducted by The Oxford Student.
40 sixth-form students, of the 47 ethnic minority participants in the recent Oxford Access Scheme shadowing programme, took part in the survey. Of these, over 40 per cent wrote "white" as one of the major preconceptions they believed to exist regarding Oxford students, and saw this image as a key factor in preventing more ethnic minority students from applying to the University. Furthermore, nearly two-thirds of those who took part saw either the continuation of this stereotype, or an admissions system perceived by some to be racially discriminatory, as significant barriers to many students applying.
After spending several days in the city as part of the Access Scheme, the majority surveyed no longer fully embraced the clichéd media portrayal of an outdated and unrepresentative institution, although the stigma traditionally attached to the university is still evident. One commented that "It's hard, when walking down the streets seeing only white faces, to believe that ethnicity is not an issue with such an institution, despite its claims to the contrary."
It is clear that Oxford is still lagging behind other universities in terms of access and ethnic diversity. UCAS figures state that for 2003 entry 5.64 per cent of applicants and 4.84 per cent of acceptances were to 'black' (Afro-Caribbean) students. For Oxford the figures were 1.45 per cent and 0.71 per cent respectively.
Despite considerable effort from initiatives such as the Oxford Access Scheme, the University is still faced with a severe image problem that causes many students to differentiate between it and other top universities. 45 per cent of those surveyed did not believe that the obstacles preventing minority applications to Oxbridge were relevant to other high-performing universities.
Indeed, many students highlighted poor impressions from the media as a key explanation for the lack of applications. Several even expressed a concern that the Oxford application process is discriminatory. One stated: "It is portrayed that those selected to attend Oxford are white and have secured contacts within the university, enabling them to gain an offer."
However, one student interviewed after the survey said he believed that race was not an issue, criticising Bristol for their apparent positive discrimination and stating that actions such as categorically lowering grades for certain students was unfair and "out of order". The OxStu had wanted to ask students their views on state school quotas, but the question was vetoed by the Oxford Access Scheme for political reasons.
Another considered the "excessive emphasis on the acceptance of ethnic minorities" as "patronising," believing that it made such applicants, "feel less valued as talented people, and more as quota fillers." Others were quick to distinguish between the notorious media image of the University and reality; although they had found that the white, middle-class stereotype of the Oxford student did hold true to some significant degree, upon actually visiting and experiencing university life, this appeared to be a less daunting prospect. One student, for example, was not worried about her status as an ethnic minority student but "proud that anyone and everyone can get in."
Even so, it would appear that the issue of race is a significant factor for many students thinking about higher education. Speaking to The OxStu, two Afro-Caribbean females from London said they thought that it would be "harder to be accepted in Oxford" than at London's top institutions such as UCL and Imperial, which have a much greater ethnic mix. Another student said he was "realistic about the prospect of loneliness" in Oxford, given his minority position.
Misunderstandings about top-up fees also appear to be a problem, with 80 per cent of respondents stating that the fees will outright deter poorer pupils from attending university, even though no students will have to pay up-front, with the least affluent likely to receive bursaries.
However, David Johnston of the Oxford Access Scheme is keen to point out that, whilst encouraging applications from minority backgrounds is still an important priority, the issue of actual acceptance figures is perhaps more pressing: "The sad reality is that ethnic minority pupils overwhelmingly apply for the two most competitive courses - Medicine and Law. This already diminishes their chances of being offered a place."
The issue of black underachievement throughout the education system must also be recognised as an important explanation: only 37 students across the nation achieved three A-level A grades in 2002. Reasons behind this disparity however remain speculative, with several interviewees highlighting the lack of academically successful black role models.
Despite the problems that remain, the Oxford Access Scheme received an overwhelmingly positive response from those who took part. David Johnston and Maxine Lyseight, co-ordinators of the scheme but speaking in a personal capacity, believe that "when students are introduced to Oxford University, any negative perceptions they received from hostile media are radically altered." According to their own research, virtually all students who took part in the programme do indeed claim that their perceptions of the University have changed as a result.
THE RESULTS
40 of the 47 sixth form students participating in the recent Oxford Access Scheme shadowing programme were questioned about their perceptions of the University:
- In terms of ethnic diversity, 62.5 per cent rated this as 'Low' or 'Very Low' before coming to the University. Once arrived, this fell to 41.0 per cent.
- Accessibility was viewed as 'Low' or 'Very Low' by 65.0 per cent of students before visiting Oxford, with only 30.8 per cent still viewing it as such once they had taken part in the scheme.
- The cost of an Oxford education appears to be a particular issue for those surveyed, with 34.2 per cent believing living costs in Oxford to be greater than elsewhere.
- When describing their perceptions of the University, 69 per cent of participants mentioned "posh", "rich", or "middle class". 42 per cent said "white".
3rd Apr 2004