Perceptions of Oxford and Cambridge have shifted in the last six years, with students and teachers more likely to mention academic factors as their distinguishing features, according to research published today.

The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) study, ‘Factors Affecting Applications to Oxford and Cambridge’, was commissioned by the universities to assess the perceptions of teachers and high-ability students at maintained schools and colleges. It aimed to see whether attitudes had changed since a similar study in 1998.

The survey showed that social factors such as the level of education attained by a student’s parents no longer made any difference to whether or not the student decided to apply to Oxford or Cambridge; in 1998 students with better qualified parents were more likely to apply to the universities.

When asked why they planned to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, the most common responses from students surveyed in 2004 were prestige (44 per cent) and the courses on offer (41 per cent). Twenty-four per cent cited teaching methods as a deciding factor in applying, compared to 18 per cent in 1998. Quality of staff (22 per cent) and quality of degree (22 per cent) were also key reasons.

For those who decided not to apply to Oxford or Cambridge, the main reason was that they didn't expect to get the necessary grades (44 per cent). The second most common reason was that the student's preferred course wasn't offered by either university (20 per cent). Only 10 per cent said it was because they felt Oxford and Cambridge were “elitist institutions”.

The responses showed a noticeable shift since 1998 towards academic factors, and away from social factors, as the reasons students decided whether to apply to Oxford or Cambridge.

Dr Geoff Parks, Director of Admissions for the Cambridge Colleges, said: “Admission to Oxford and Cambridge is based solely on academic ability and potential, and both universities want to ensure that the brightest UK students are applying for, and getting, our places. We have worked very hard over the last few years to get that message across to teachers and students so we’re pleased that this report shows we are making good progress.”

Helen Carasso, Acting Director of the Oxford Colleges Admissions Office, said: "We’re seeing more and more people rightly thinking about Oxford and Cambridge as academic elites, and fewer thinking of them as social elites."

An executive summary, along with the full report, can be viewed online from today at the NFER website at www.nfer.ac.uk.

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