Learning institutions introduce new application process.
A group of nine universities in England have joined together in an effort aimed to increase the availability of degree qualifications to students from poorer backgrounds.
Newcastle, Birmingham, Leicester, Bristol, Southampton, Warwick, Leeds, Exeter and King's College London will operate a joint application policy, whereby students deemed able to apply to one of the institutions will be able to apply to all, the BBC reports.
The move was welcomed by universities secretary John Denham, who spoke of the initiative this week at the Labour Party conference.
"I am delighted that some of our most selective institutions are working together to make progress in widening participation," he remarked.
Of the nine universities, seven are members of the Russell Group, a collection of higher learning facilities often compared to the United States' Ivy League.
Interestingly, Manchester, another Russell Group university and the city in which Mr Denham made is speech, is not taking part in the scheme.
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