‘Stormzy effect’ helps boost number of black students entering University of Cambridge to record high

Grime artist has launched scholarships to boost diversity at elite institution

Stormzy met black students at the University of Cambridge before announcing his scholarships (Nick Safell)

The “Stormzy effect” has helped the University of Cambridge increase the number of black students they admit to a record high.

The number of black students starting at the prestigious institution has risen by nearly 50 per cent in the past year – from 61 in 2018-2019 to 91 this academic year.

For the first time, the proportion of black students has risen above 3 per cent and figures show there will be more than 200 black undergraduates studying at Cambridge in 2019-20 – which is an all-time high.

It comes after grime artist Stormzy announced last year that he would pay the tuition fees and living costs for two black British students each year for the duration of their study at Cambridge.

Cambridge says the “Stormzy effect” is partly behind the growth in numbers as more black students have engaged in outreach activities and enquired about courses since the scholarship hit the headlines.

But they added that campaign work challenging the misconceptions about Cambridge, as well as increased access work and outreach activities, were also behind the success.

Cambridge and other elite universities have been in the spotlight for failing to admit sufficient numbers of students from ethnic minorities and poorer backgrounds.

Ministers and the Office for Students have recently criticised top universities for not making enough progress after it was revealed that some Oxbridge colleges had admitted no British black students.

But the latest figures from Cambridge also show that the number of UK Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) undergraduate students admitted to the university has reached a new record – of 26.8 per cent.

Professor Graham Virgo, senior pro-vice-chancellor (education), said: “The university has worked hard to get the message out that it is a welcoming place for students regardless of their ethnicity.

“This record rise in the number of black students is a credit to their hard work and ability: we have not lowered entry standards.”

He added: “It is also a credit to the hard work put in by admissions staff across the University and Colleges in running various outreach activities, and the positive campaigns run by our student societies and external partners. We have achieved this without any reduction in offer levels or provision of preferential treatment.”

Labour MP David Lammy, who has been campaigning for Oxbridge to improve access, said: “It is a shame it has taken so long, but it’s obviously very good news that the number of black students getting into Cambridge has seen such progress this year.

“There is still much more work to do to sustain this, especially given the reality that under 21s are considerably more ethnically diverse than the general population.

“Radical reforms are still required if Britain’s top universities are to get the best talent, regardless of background, school, geographical location and class.”