A prestigious university with a long academic tradition has come under fire over claims of “anti-white discrimination” linked to a controversial new admissions initiative aimed at British students

of Asian heritage.

Durham University, one of England’s oldest universities, is offering reduced entry requirements for certain applicants under its newly launched *Asian Access* programme. The scheme applies to competitive courses such as psychology, law and politics.

As part of the initiative, British Asian students attending state schools who complete a free summer school—covering accommodation, travel and meals—are promised a “guaranteed alternative offer,” typically up to two grades lower than standard entry requirements.

The university says the programme is designed to support groups that are traditionally underrepresented in higher education, and particularly at Durham. However, critics argue the policy is misguided, pointing to data suggesting that Asian students are already more likely to enter university than their peers from other ethnic backgrounds.

Official figures show that in 2024, 51.4% of Asian state school students in England secured places in higher education, compared with 29.8% of white students. Chinese students recorded the highest progression rate at 66.1%, while Black students ranked third at 48%.

Robert Jenrick, a Reform Party MP and former minister, sharply criticised the policy, calling it “a blatant case of discrimination against white students.”

In response, a spokesperson for Durham University defended the initiative, stating that admissions decisions remain “fair, non-discriminatory and based on published criteria.” The university added that the programme aligns with its agreed access and participation plan, developed in coordination with the national regulator, to increase representation among underrepresented groups. According to the university, participants in the scheme are selected from areas with historically low rates of university progression.

Durham is not alone in facing scrutiny over admissions practices. University of Oxford has also been criticised for what some describe as “social engineering,” after figures suggested that, over the past five years, 16% of Black applicants admitted did not meet standard A-Level requirements, compared with 6% of white applicants.

Meanwhile, University of York and University of Bristol are among several institutions offering “contextual admissions” to students from disadvantaged backgrounds or specific ethnic groups—a practice that continues to fuel debate over fairness and equality in higher education. Photo by Suicasmo, Wikimedia commons.