Black students are behind white students by a huge margin at almost half of British universities, new data shows.

Figures released by the Office for Students (OfS) show a gap of 20 percentage points or more at 45 per cent of institutions.

The success of the two different sets of students was measured in terms of whether they finished the degree, what mark they got and whether they went on to full-time employment.

A gap of 20 per cent exists between white and black students at 45 per cent of UK universities

In addition, while black students have good rates of access to universities as a whole, they are still underrepresented at Oxford and Cambridge.

At Oxford, only 1.8 per cent of admitted students are black, even though black youngsters make up more than three per cent of the 18-year-old population as a whole.

Meanwhile, at Cambridge, they fare only slightly better - making up 2.3 per cent of admitted students.

Chris Millward, director for fair access and participation, said research has shown a 'number of things' are causing the success gap between black and white students.

He said: 'Some of the issues that are highlighted in the research is the relationships between students, and between students and staff - for example the extent to which students feel willing and able to go and get support from staff.

'In addition, the number of black academic staff in higher education is very low.

Only 1.8 per cent of Oxford University's students are black, even though three per cent of 18-year-olds are black

Chris Millward, director for fair access and participation, said people from ethnic minority groups who haven't experienced higher education before might have less of a sense of belonging

'There may also be issues about the nature of assessment practices and the extent to which they are inclusive and work for all groups of students.

'And then a lot people would talk about that sense of belonging in the university - if you're from a minority group, if your family hasn't experienced higher education before, if the academic staff don't look like you, you potentially have less of a sense of belonging.'

Universities minister Chris Skidmore said: 'We have introduced reforms to make sure that higher education is open to everyone who has the talent and potential - and there is a record rate of disadvantaged 18-year-olds going to university, but it is important that we build on this progress.'

He called on universities to draw up plans to 'increase the ways they are supporting underrepresented and disadvantaged groups'.