White girls likely to get top degrees

White middle-class women have the best chance of getting top degrees at London universities.

Research published today shows that women outperformed men in almost every subject, with 59 per cent of firsts and 2:1s going to women last year.

The gap is widest in courses such as biological science and education, according to an analysis of official data by the Recruiters' Guide to Courses and Campuses.

The research also found that white students - whether male or female - got better degrees even at London universities with high proportions of ethnic minorities.

Simon Howard, the RGCC's cofounder, said: "With the majority of graduate employers expecting a 2:1 as a minimum entry requirement, decent jobs with good prospects are being restricted to graduates who are typically white, middle-class and usually female."