Cambridge gives late offers to 67 deprived pupils

CAMBRIDGE University is to admit 67 “second chance” students from disadvantaged backgrounds, after allowing post A-level applications for the first time.

In an effort to improve diversity, the university earmarked extra places for deprived students who performed better than expected in their A-levels.

Cambridge announced this year that it was prepared to give out up to 100 additional places to pupils who have spent time in local authority care, or those with a combination of characteristics including attending a state school and living in a deprived household or area.

Many Russell Group universities offer places through the “adjustment” system, where students who do better than expected in their A-levels are able to “trade up” for a better university place.

But Oxford and Cambridge have traditionally abstained from doing so on the basis that they fill all their places in advance.

The move by Cambridge is aimed at admitting more talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have already applied and been interviewed, but “narrowly missed out” on an offer.

Dr Sam Lucy, director of admissions for the Cambridge colleges, said: “When we announced the adjustment scheme, we received many emails from students saying the second chance for a place at Cambridge was inspiring them to work even harder to achieve the best A-level results they could.

“It is wonderful to see that so many who may not have managed to show their full academic potential during the main A-level admission round have gone on to excel.”

Of the 67 places that Cambridge handed out on Thursday night, 17 went for medicine while others were for degrees in law, engineering, natural sciences and economics.

It came as record numbers of students found university places through clearing, figures from the university admissions system Ucas showed.

More than 17,000 applicants have been accepted to degree courses through the process – up 15 per cent on the same point last year.