Pupils from some of Scotland's most deprived areas were just as likely to graduate with a first-class honours degree than those from affluent areas if they attended confidence-building classes in school, a landmark study found.
Students who were given tailored support in fifth and sixth year to prepare them for higher education performed as well and in some cases better than those from the least deprived areas.
The biggest study of its kind in Scotland compared the outcomes of 30,000 students from the West of Scotland over a 16-year period who took part in the University of Glasgow's 'top-up' scheme.
Pupils from deprived areas considering university are taught essential higher education skills such as how to think and read critically and carry out research and are given confidence-building tips for participating in seminar discussions.
They attend a university lecture and are given graded assignments.
