Laura Spence: Elitist image

Last year's row about Northumbrian state school student Laura Spence - who was rejected by Oxford despite having good grades - only emphasised Oxbridge's elitist image.

Rosemary Butcher, who is a school liaison officer at Cambridge University, admits they have a problem.

Ms Butcher, who went to school in Galashiels, said: "If a student likes the sound of a course offered they should not think that because they are from a school in Scotland they can't apply."

The universities have come north to encourage Scots to apply for Oxford and Cambridge.

More applications

They have hired the conference centre at Murrayfield Stadium and packed it with pupils and teachers.

More than 400 students and teachers attended from more than 50 Scottish universities from Thurso to Kirkcudbright, and from state and private schools.

Admissions officers hope this chance to answer queries will motivate more applications.

Meanwhile, the new head of St Andrews University pledged to be "heavily involved" in fundraising to tackle the university's money problems.

St Andrews University: New Vice-Chancellor

Dr Brian Lang highlighted the funding plight of Scotland's oldest university, where Prince William has chosen to study history of art, as he was officially installed as principal and vice-chancellor.

At a traditional ceremony in the Fife town, Dr Lang warned that unless the university got more money, its effectiveness would be significantly affected.

Dr Lang, the former chief executive of the British Library, who joined the university in January, was inducted during an hour-long ceremony at the town's Younger Hall.

The ceremony included centuries old traditions including the wearing of gowns, Latin oaths and the finest university maces in the world.

Dr Lang said he wanted St Andrews to be recognised as one of the world's best universities but warned it could only attract good researchers if it provided decent wages and good facilities.

Decent salary

He highlighted the long-term decline of government funding of universities.

And added: "The university is suffering from a shortage of funds and if uncorrected this will have a significant impact on our effectiveness.

"Welcome though next year's real terms increase in our grant from the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council might be, the overall trend in such support is downward.

"To pay our staff decent salaries, to provide the facilities I have been describing, to meet the aspirations I have been setting out, needs funds to match."