But Universities UK, representing vice-chancellors, fears setting targets for reducing this figure will unfairly punish colleges willing to take a gamble on candidates from non-traditional backgrounds.

Campus recruiting is a mix of MBAs and exceptional candidates with non-traditional backgrounds.

In the report, Raab outlines 10 policies to improve social mobility and provide opportunities for those from non-traditional backgrounds to succeed.

Entry requirements vary and the average Ucas point requirement works out at 280, although there are a variety of access schemes which have been designed to meet the needs of students from non-traditional academic backgrounds.

Freshfields runs a number of programmes designed to attract applicants from non-traditional backgrounds, including TARGETchances City law, Pure Potential and the Sutton Trust's Pathways to Law initiative.

The Eli Whitney Students Program is an admissions program designed to attract students from non-traditional backgrounds to Yale College.

Aimhigher is an umbrella term to describe initiatives aimed at widening participation in UK higher education, particularly among students from non-traditional backgrounds, minority groups and disabled persons.

He also played a key role in the development of the University's Research Strategy and Education Strategy, and in the development of initiatives to improve access to the University for students from non-traditional backgrounds.

Graeme Baker, Thames Valley's head of widening participation, says: "We are an institution that works really hard around access and having doors open for students from non-traditional backgrounds.

Hayes Slade brings a non-traditional background to her design work.