Is the University of Liverpool Considered the Working-Class Version of Oxbridge?

I didn't feel like writing out, M.Phil, so what? The majority of Americans on here (and they do make up the majority, believe it or not) have no idea what an M.Phil is, and I, myself, am of the opinion it sounds pretentious.

I didn't feel like writing out, M.Phil, so what? The majority of Americans on here (and they do make up the majority, believe it or not) have no idea what an M.Phil is, and I, myself, am of the opinion it sounds pretentious.

Indeed, I do. I hold a BA from one of those 2 universities and I am now pursuing an MA at that same university. And it has been my experience that many of my fellow students, if not the majority in some colleges, were drawn from the upper-middle and the upper classes, including myself. Sure, there were plenty of people you could point to and say, so-and-so's father was a welder, or she comes from the rough edge of Liverpool, but not nearly enough, in my opinion. Besides, because the elites are small in number they obviously can not dominate any institution, so those that are not from that class can easily be pointed to and it can be said: 'See, we're all not Eton/Roedean graduates; most of the students here come from working-class and middle-class families'. Such a phony cop-out! Obviously, there's more room for just accommodating the sons and daughters of the wealthiest 5% of the British population. Ever ask yourself why the top 5% of the economic ladder makes up 45% - 60% of most colleges at Oxbridge, while they take only .02% of places at most of the Redbricks? You see similar trends at the other unis thought reserved for the posh who couldn't get into Oxbridge, such as Durham, Bristol, UCL, Kings, LSE. But go to the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham, and Manchester, and nary a PR speaking, boarding school, 'Father works in the City and my horse's name is Cuddles' type can be found. Mind you, a number of the students will be graduate of 'independent schools', but there is a world of difference between a modest fee-paying, provincial, day school compared to super elite boarding schools like Eton, St Swithun's, Winchester or Roedean. Graduates of these places either head to Oxbridge or the select alternates mentioned. If they have serious money than they go to the Ivy League in America or perhaps one of the swish universities in Switzerland or France.

That's a bit rude towards working class and the middle class people. Not every parents can afford a "super elite boarding school" however they do the best they can with that they've got. We can't all be the "wealthiest 5%" in Britain.

If you are going to wade in with a stinging complaint about something you've read, make sure you know how to read first. I say this because if you could read anything beyond simple sentence structures you would have realised that I was communicating my sympathy toward working-class people for getting the shaft from elitist institutions such as Oxbridge and a small cadre of expensive boarding schools, which serve as feeders to Oxbridge. I was not condescending down toward working-class. On the contrary, I was making a case for breaking down the old walls of a very unfair class system we still suffer with here in Britain.

....Well, that's just you. And for that matter, who cares what you think. Now get lost and stay there.

Yes Liverpool is the working class equivalent to oxbridge. I liked what another poster said about the roots of Bangor and Aberystwyth being working class though. I wonder if there is a truly working class university, perhaps one of the old poly's? Where the majority of students are from working class backgrounds.

If I had to guess, I'd say the majority of Liverpool's student body comes from a working-class background. Not sure that would apply to the faculty, as academics - particularly in the arts and humanities - usually derive from a upper-middle-class, or even upper-class background.

If I had to guess, I'd say the majority of Liverpool's student body comes from a working-class background. Not sure that would apply to the faculty, as academics - particularly in the arts and humanities - usually derive from a upper-middle-class, or even upper-class background.

22% of Liverpool's young first degree students come from socio-economic classes 4-7. That is lower than King's College London.

one's at the top? Only know where I am with the abc1 system.