2018 continues to secure its position as the year of the women, as it's reported that Oxford University has awarded more places to women than men in the first time since the college was established around 800 years ago.

According to data provided by Ucas (and via The Sunday Times), last year saw 1,275 UK female graduates being offered places compared with 1,165 men of the same age. Of these, 1,070 women achieved the grades to secure their places, compared to 1,025 men.

Women also received more offers to study as undergraduates than men, despite fewer applying for the places compared to their male counterparts, according to data published by the universities admissions body this week.

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The data only goes back as far as 2010, but it's believed that men have outnumbered women since the first Oxford college was established in 1249.

Women were first permitted entry to the university back in 1878, when Lady Margaret Hall was opened as an all-women college, and the first of the university's male colleges admitted women in 1974.

Oxford's appointed its first woman as vice-chancellor, Prof Louise Richardson, last year, and ten out of the university's 30 colleges have women as their principals or heads.

Meanwhile, Cambridge - Oxford's historical rival - offered more places to male sixth formers than female students, but only by a slim margin of 1,440 to 1,405. British women aged over 18 were offered more places, but fewer accepted the offers.

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Oxford has been criticised for its track record of admitting black British students, but Ucas data revealed a minor improvement. Following a record of 435 applicants of all ages, 65 were offered places compared to the 55 applicants last year.

Ucas's equality data also showed an improvement in the admittance of students from disadvantaged backgrounds among selective universities.

Ucas's chief executive Clare Marchant said: 'Our data shows overall that admissions are fair. Applicants from all backgrounds receive offers at rates which closely match the average for applicants to similar courses, with similar predicted grades.

'However, these data also show that, while progress continues to be made in widening participation, particularly at universities with a higher entry tariff, large disparities remain between the groups entering higher education generally, and at individual universities and colleges.'

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Naomi Gordon

Naomi Gordon is news writer mainly covering entertainment news with a focus on celebrity interviews and television.