Oxford University's boss, who is already among the lowest paid Vice-Chancellors in Britain, has been awarded one of the smallest pay rises, writes Madeleine Pennell.

Professor Colin Lucas received a pay rise this year of 3.6 per cent, taking his salary to 94,000.

His increase is slightly higher than that awarded to other Oxford academics, who were given three per cent, but among the lowest when compared to his university counterparts elsewhere in Britain. The highest increase was 27 per cent for Lord Oxburgh, of Imperial College, London, who earns 136,000.

The highest-paid Vice-Chancellor is John Quelch, of the London Business School, who earns 266,000. The head of Cambridge University, Sir Alex Broers, has a salary of 126,000.

Graham Upton, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, had a 6.8 per cent pay rise to 110,000 more than double the three per cent rise for the rest of the academic staff. But his rise still puts his salary lower than the average salary for a Vice-Chancellor, which is 111,000.

A university spokesman said his salary was set by the remuneration committee, composed of Brookes governors.