OXFORD University students from ethnic minority backgrounds earn, on average, a higher starting salary than their fellow graduates.

A study examined data from 2,791 graduates who responded to a 2014/15 destinations of leavers survey.

A host of socio-demographic measures were then added, including levels of educational and financial advantage, school type, sex and ethnicity.

It revealed BME students' average starting pay was £26k compared with £19.2K for other graduates.

Jonathan Black, Director of Oxford University's Careers Service, who led the research, said the results appeared to be down to course selection., with BME students also more likely to go into careers related to banking or health and social care.