Despite spending more than £300 million, a government bursary scheme has proven unsuccessful in attracting disadvantaged students to elite universities, a recent report has shown.

The report, which was issued by the government’s university watchdog, the Office for Fair Access (Offa), has shown that efforts to increase the proportion of students from less privileged backgrounds at the country’s top universities have failed.

The report analysed the applications of a million teenagers between 2003 and 2008. It was found that although there was an overall rise in the number of poorer students entering higher education, this was not represented at the top universities, with the proportion of teenagers going to the most prestigious universities staying “almost flat”.

This is despite the introduction in 2006 of a £304 million bursary scheme in which top universities offered poorer students with high grades up to £3,500, which they do not have to repay.

In contrast, the research showed that the universities which offered lower levels of bursary saw an in increase in the proportion of students from poorer backgrounds.

According to the report, “Since the introduction of bursaries, disadvantaged young people –  who would be more likely to qualify for bursaries –  have increased their participation most rapidly in the third of institutions that offer lower bursaries.”

The study – Have bursaries influenced choices between universities? – showed that teenagers from wealthy backgrounds were 5.1 times more likely than poorer students to get into top universities in 2009, compared with 4.6 times 15 years ago.

It was also reported that even when young people from poor families apply to a top university, and are offered a place, they are reluctant to take it up despite the promise of a generous bursary.

Sir Martin Harris, Offa's director, has suggested reasons behind the under-representation of poorer students at top universities. "Maybe these students did the wrong subjects or they did not aspire to get to these universities. Students should be told at 14 which subjects they should choose if they wanted to apply to a top university. However, universities should do more with schools in disadvantaged areas,” he said.

Offa went on to encourage top universities to waive tuition fees altogether for the poorest students, for their first year of study at least. They also recommended diverting some of the £591 million spent between 2006 and 2008 on bursaries towards improving access and outreach projects which received just £84 million in the same time period.