Oxford 'needs donors to help fund tutorials'

A leading Oxford don warned today that the university's historic tutorial system may not survive without radical new sources of income.

Andrew Dilnot, principal of St Hugh's College, said the tutorials were the key to students blossoming academically, but were expensive.

He said: "Students are not charged anything like what it costs, nor is the government." More gifts from private donors are needed, he said.

He spoke as Oxford released this year's Norrington Table, ranking the university's undergraduate colleges on degree results. St Hugh's was the most improved, rising from 26th place to 10th. The top-ranked Oxford college again this year was Merton, where nearly half of finalists gained first-class degrees.

Oxford has launched an £1.25billion fundraising drive.