Black students at the University of Cambridge are much less likely to be awarded first-class degrees than their white counterparts.

Research into the achievements of black students has found that that a significant number "clearly do not thrive in the Cambridge context".

The four-year study, carried out by researchers at the university, emphasised that a majority of black students at the university were successful.

But it also found that a "significant minority" of black students were underachieving, which was reflected in their relative lack of success at achieving the highest degree scores.

While 21% of white students were awarded first class degrees, only 3.1% of black students were awarded firsts. This compares with 23.7% Indian students and 17.9% Chinese students who scored firsts.

'Problem throughout system'

"Although the numbers in non-white ethnic groups are small, and particularly so for black students, the difference between black students and other students is marked enough to give cause for concern," say researchers.

Dr Joan Whitehead, from the university's Faculty of Education, said that the findings were not evidence of discrimination.

"I don't think the university is institutionally racist. I don't think a university that does its best to attract and fund overseas students from all ethnic backgrounds can be institutionally racist," said Dr Whitehead.

"This is a problem common throughout the whole of the education system.

"It isn't that they are all having difficulties, it just appears that more of them are having difficulties than other students."

The findings emerged from research which had been examining whether female students at Cambridge faced discrimination in the awarding of first-class degrees.