Thirty-six per cent of BAME university students in the UK are choosing to study Medicine and Dentistry courses when they enrol, making them the highest uptake for ethnic minorities.

Law degrees have the second-highest number of students from an ethnic minority background at 34%.

Business and Administrative Studies have the third-highest number, with 33% of all students being BAME.

However, at the other end of the spectrum is Veterinary Science with just five per cent of students being from an ethnic minority background.

Analysis of the university subjects has been conducted to determine the number of BAME students. It is also to see the rise in the number of BAME students who have instead decided to do an apprenticeship.

In terms of apprenticeships, there has been a four per cent increase in the number of BAME students over the past 10 years.

Even though the attendance of BAME university students increased by 20% in the year 2016/2017, a report highlighted the attainment gap at universities.

The report stated that BAME students were less likely to achieve a first or 2:1 degree compared to their white counterparts.

The report also highlighted that BAME students are at a disadvantage throughout their time at university and also when applying for a job after their studies.

Despite showing that steps have been made towards equality, it is shocking that in 2019, race and ethnicity can have a negative effect on a student’s grade.

White students who graduated in 2018 and who achieved a first or 2:1 degree were 13% more likely to do so than those from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Higher education institutions are implementing measures to ensure a positive change. They are now required to publish data on admissions and attainment with this required to be broken down by ethnicity, gender and background.

This move was set to enable universities and colleges to explain their current gap and highlight areas where they need to change and improve.

While the subjects with the highest uptake in BAME students show an increase in diversity, the same cannot be said for the subjects with the lowest uptake.

Both veterinary science and agriculture see less than 10% of students from an ethnic minority background choosing to study these courses at university.

As little as 10% of university students from an ethnic minority background opt to study combined sciences.

Eleven per cent of students choose to study historical and philosophical studies.

The past 10 years has revealed that four per cent of BAME students are choosing to study apprenticeships. While it is a positive increase, the rate in which it increased could be better.

The report which highlighted the gap found talked about the role that universities and the senior leadership team play in driving positive change in the sector.

It also cites how they can improve inclusivity and grading for ethnic minority students.

However, initiatives which are focused on improving equality at universities and higher education institutions need to be driven towards a full strategy for inclusivity instead of programmes which lack proper substance.