Not social class, degree class. A recent report has shown that men are being passed over for well-paying jobs because they're taking tougher courses at university than women. One-third of graduate jobs being advertised to graduates of any discipline with a 2:1 or better degree, which gives an undue advantage to people studying softer degrees like Psychology and English. As it turns out, this disproportionately disadvantages men, who are still opting for more rigorous degrees like Physics or Engineering.

Follow up:

The Figures

• Women make up 83% of Psychology studentts and 76% of English students
• 87% of Psychology students achieved a 2:1 or first class degree compared to 63% of Maths students, despite the maths students having markedly better A-level results

Darius Norell, managing director of RealWorld says "employers are comparing courses that were never designed to be compared." What's essentially happening is that shortlists are excluding those with a 2:2 in Maths from Oxbridge, while retaining those with a 2:1 in Social Care from Luton or Thames Valley. To put thigns into a local perspective, assuming the discipline of the degree isn't at all relevant to the job, would you place an applicant with a 2:1 in PE from the Poly above a Queen's graduate with a 2:2 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering?