OXFORD University received a record number of undergraduate applications this year - the vast majority from state school pupils, the university said.

More than 17,000 prospective students have applied this year - a 12 per cent increase on last year's figure.

Mike Nicholson, director of undergraduate admissions said: "This is great news. We have worked hard to ensure that all students with the potential to succeed at Oxford apply, regardless of their background. I believe we can now say that this work is beginning to bear fruit.

"We have had a 17 per cent increase in state-educated applicants this year, which suggests that our efforts to challenge stereotypes and mythology about Oxford are having an impact."

The university received 17,085 applications by the deadline of October 15, compared with 15,277 last year.

The extra 1,808 applications included 1,110 more from UK state schools than were received last year, with 399 more independent school applicants and 299 more from other, mainly international students.

Of the UK applicants, 63.6 per cent were from state schools and 36.4 per cent from independent schools.