Oxford dons fear the university’s reputation is being damaged as a scheme to increase diversity by accepting “disadvantaged” students who fail the normal entrance criteria is expanded to almost one in ten places.

The Opportunity Oxford programme reserves places for applicants from “disadvantaged” postcodes or classed as being from “stretched society” who do not pass the normal admissions process.

The university publicly states that they are “admitted on the same rigorous basis as all other students”. Guidance issued to admissions tutors says the places are reserved for students “who might otherwise narrowly miss out on an offer”.

• Peter Mandelson: Oxford should widen access for disadvantaged students

The scheme aims to recruit 220 students this year and this will increase to 280 by 2028. Admissions