Number of black students at Cambridge University rises by 50 per cent as 'Stormzy effect' is cited
The number of black students at Cambridge has risen by 50 per cent in a year, with a university chief citing the “Stormzy effect”.
This year 91 black students have been admitted to Cambridge, up from 61 last year. There are currently over 200 black undergraduates studying at the university, which is the highest in the institution's 800 year history.
Over a quarter (26.8 per cent) of all undergraduates at Cambridge are now from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.
Professor Graham Virgo, Cambridge’s senior pro-vice-Chancellor for education, said that the rise was partly down to a new scholarship for black students which was launched by the grime artist Stormzy last year.
“A number of factors are thought to be behind the increase in black students applying and being admitted,” he Prof Virgo said.
“One is likely to be the “Stormzy effect”. In August 2018, the award-winning British grime artist announced he would fund tuition fees and living costs for two students each year for the duration of their study at Cambridge. “Since then the University has seen an increase in the number of black students engage in its outreach activities and enquire about its courses.”
In 2018, Stormzy, the rapper, launched a scholarship to Cambridge University which pays for tuition fees and living costs for two young black students. Earlier this year he announced that he will cover the costs of another two students from black, Asian or minority ethnic backgrounds.
Prof Virgo said that the record number of black students at Cambridge is “a credit to their hard work and ability”, adding that the university has not lowered its entry standards.
He explained that the university as well as individual colleges and student societies have run a number of successful information campaigns that have encouraged more black students to apply, including a series of short films presented by a You Tube influencer and Cambridge graduate, Courtney Daniella which aimed to “challenge the misconceptions” surrounding a Cambridge degree.
He told an event at King’s College, Cambridge that the “unexpected” finding arose during research into what deters black students from considering the institution.
Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, urged other universities to look at “new and innovative” ways to encourage underrepresented groups to apply.
“I think we should always be looking at every single way to encourage people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds to be going to some of our top universities, going to all of our universities,” he said.
