Britain’s universities are to tackle the danger of “unconscious bias” against students from black and minority ethnic backgrounds by removing candidates’ names from their application forms, David Cameron is to announce. Amid fears that BME students are losing out to white contemporaries when they apply for university, the prime minister will say that Ucas will make its applications “name-blind” from 2017. The move by Ucas, which acts as the central body for almost all university applications, is announced by the prime minister in a Guardian article ahead of a roundtable meeting in Downing Street to tackle discrimination in the workplace and in education. The meeting will also discuss the government’s plans, outlined over the weekend, to intensify measures to close the gender pay gap. The prime minister and Nicky Morgan, the minister for women and equalities and also education secretary, announced a three point plan to: Force larger companies to publish the size of bonuses for male and female employees as part of new duties on reporting the gender pay gap. Update the law to force public sector bodies employing more than 250 people to join the private and voluntary sector in revealing the gap between men and women’s pay. Encourage businesses to eliminate all-male boards in the FTSE-350.

Originally posted by CallumDavies not sure Americans will understand this title - but yes, this is amazing apparently they want to extend it to job applications too

London, I am coming for you

Wonderful idea, but I don't like how they're only doing this for black and minority backgrounds only. I personally think that they should also remove the names of people who are Caucasian, too, so it's a fair opportunity for everyone.

Nonetheless, this is amazing. Congratulations to the UK.

Originally posted by OnikaChrist Wonderful idea, but I don't like how they're only doing this for black and minority backgrounds only. I personally think that they should also remove the names of people who are Caucasian, too, so it's a fair opportunity for everyone. Nonetheless, this is amazing. Congratulations to the UK.

Originally posted by Matangi London, I am coming for you

Originally posted by keshaspearsxo Oh, that's interesting. I noticed they added a sexual orientation question, I'm pretty sure that wasn't there before last year?

It's not really affected me and I'm part of an ethnic minority but I do know a lot people who have been turned down but I thought it was because of their lack of merits. There have been some cases in which one of my friends had the merit, three A*s and a good enough personal statement but didn't get into a single Medical school

Originally posted by B'Day Yeah I saw that too Hopefully it's for statistical purposes, not the uni actually knowing because it's not their business.

Originally posted by keshaspearsxo I read somewhere that they don't actually use that information against you, it's just so they can inform the universities the statistics so they can properly offer support that a minority may need. Either way, there's an option to not answer (unless they have changed this, I'm not sure)

Originally posted by keshaspearsxo I read somewhere that they don't actually use that information against you, it's just so they can inform the universities the statistics so they can properly offer support that a minority may need. Either way, there's an option to not answer (unless they have changed this, I'm not sure)

Originally posted by Ethereal It's not really affected me and I'm part of an ethnic minority but I do know a lot people who have been turned down but I thought it was because of their lack of merits. There have been some cases in which one of my friends had the merit, three A*s and a good enough personal statement but didn't get into a single Medical school