The Higher Education system in the UK has come under fire again today after new figures reveal structural racism in the application process. An Independent report found that black applicants are 21 times more likely to have their university applications investigated for false or missing information than white students.

The data shows that 419 black British applicants to undergraduate courses last September were highlighted as a cause for concern, compared to 181 white British applicants – even though there were far more white applications.

UCAS said it is “extremely concerned” by the figures and has launched an investigation, they also insisted that ethnicity is not taken into account during the screening of applications even if the prospective student declare it on the accompanying forms.

However, Labour has accused the higher education system of “institutional racism” and demands urgent action to stop the “racial profiling” of applicants. This is because this is not the first major concern that UK universities are treating their black students unfairly in recent months. This year, several high profile incidents have exposed an inability (and unwillingness) to tackle abuse on campus.

Nottingham Trent student Rufaro Chisango filmed her fellow students chanting “we hate blacks” outside her bedroom door in her halls of residence. Frustrations continued when a University of Exeter student posted screenshots from a Whatsapp group chat where other law students exchanged racial and religious slurs. One message read: “Alla is a social construct by sheep raping bumbaclarts in sandals”. Just recently, a Bristol student held a colonial-themed birthday party.

It is thought that more than half of UK students will witness racism on campus, and critics fear that universities aren’t making the issue a priority or taking reports seriously enough.