Universities see 50% rise in prodigies

The number of under-18s studying at British universities has gone up by more than 50 percent in the past six years, according to figures which suggest that ambitious teenagers are taking advantage of new anti-discrimination laws to demand an early place.

There are nearly 8,000 under-18s at university - up from less than 5,000 in 2002, figures obtained from the Higher Education Statistics Agency by The Guardian show. The overwhelming majority started only a year early, at 17, but official documents suggest there are up to 100 university students under 16.

Universities have been forced to examine child protection laws that are usually the preserve of schools. Many UK universities have preferred to resist approaches from children under 18 for fear of the "in loco parentis" role they have to take. But a change to the age discrimination laws in 2006 now means they have to consider all applicants, regardless of age.