A new survey has revealed that students are split over whether universities should make lower grade A-level offers to disadvantaged candidates.

The poll of more than 1,000 students by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) found that 47 per cent of full-time undergraduates supported making contextual offers to disadvantaged pupils, while 45 per cent were against the idea.

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However, the opinion poll - What do students think about contextual admissions? - also found that a majority of 72 per cent of students agreed it was harder to achieve good exam results if you grow up in a disadvantaged area, while only 23 per cent disagreed.

And students at the most selective Russell Group universities were more likely to support contextual offers, with 81 per cent agreeing candidates from disadvantaged backgrounds should be given lower grade offers.

Three quarters of students - 72 per cent - agreed that universities should take applicants’ backgrounds into account, with just 23 per cent opposing this.

And the majority of students - 53 per cent - disagreed with the idea that contextual admissions “would make it harder for students like me to get into university”, while only 28 per cent agreed.

Most students also thought that those admitted with lower grade requirements would be able to keep up with the course, with 54 per cent agreeing with this. However, 38 per cent of students disagreed with this.

Two thirds of students - 65 per cent - were unaware of whether their university made contextual offers, with only 16 per cent of those polled being certain of this.

Hugo Dale-Harris, HEPI’s policy officer and the author of the report, said: “Contextual offers are the most promising tool universities have for picking students with the most academic potential regardless of background.”

“It is encouraging to see most students recognise educational disadvantage makes it harder to do well and want university admissions to recognise the huge potential of those who achieve against the odds.”

“It’s striking that students at the most selective universities are most supportive, with 57 per cent supporting lower grade offers for applicants who’ve had to struggle harder.”

“We might have expected students, who are typically from more advantaged backgrounds, to be more resistant to contextual offers. But these results demonstrate for the first time that most students recognise educational inequalities and want universities to address them.”

Nick Hillman, HEPI’s director, said: “Our poll shows the principles behind contextual offers are widely accepted by students, who believe disadvantage applicants need a boost.”

Data from the Office for Students included in HEPI’s report found that 18-year-olds from advantaged areas are 2.4 times more likely to enter higher education than peers from the least advantaged areas, and 5.7 times more likely to enter the most academically selective universities.

The OfS aim to reduce this ratio from 5:1 to 3:1 by 2024/5 and 1:1 by 2038/9.

HEPI said that contextualised offers involve a university making offers reduced by at least one grade in one subject compared to the standard offer for that course, but may involve several grades across many or all subjects.

Contextual offers can be made due to a range of factors, such as a student being the first person in their family to attend university, living in an area with low participation in higher education, attending a poorly-performing school or having specific personal characteristics, such as being a care leaver, refugee or having a disability.

Helen Thorne, from UCAS said: “Everyone with the potential, no matter their background, should have a fair opportunity to study at university.”

“We know that most students believe individual circumstances should be taken into account during the admissions process.”

Chris Millward, director for Fair Access and Participation at the Office for Students, said: “Significant changes are needed to ensure that the admissions process looks beyond grades to identify merit, recognising the potential of talented candidates from underrepresented backgrounds who have so much to offer to their fellow students, university community and wider society.”