Half of state school teachers would never or only rarely encourage their brightest pupils to apply to Oxbridge, according to research published today.

It uncovered widespread ignorance among teachers about Oxford and Cambridge, indicating that the brightest pupils could miss the opportunity to apply to leading universities.

The MORI survey of 500 teachers was commissioned by the Sutton Trust, an educational charity committed to increasing university intake from deprived backgrounds. It found that nine in ten teachers underestimated the number of Oxbridge students from state schools. Sixty per cent thought that fewer than 30 per cent of Oxford and Cambridge students were from state schools. The correct figure is 54 per cent.

More than half thought that it was more expensive to study at Oxbridge, although both charge the same tuition fees as most other English universities, and offer generous bursaries.

And while 54 per cent said that they always or usually encouraged gifted children to apply to Cambridge or Oxford, 25 per cent said that they would rarely do so, and 20 per cent would never suggest this to pupils.

Sir Peter Lampl, chairman of the Sutton Trust, said: “The misconceptions among secondary school teachers about Oxbridge are alarming and clearly have an impact on the number of bright state school students applying to these two great universities, despite the considerable efforts that both are making to reach out to them.

“It is clear that much more needs to be done to dispel the myths about Oxbridge, and other leading universities, and to ensure that young people’s higher education decisions are based on fact, not fiction.”

He said that teachers’ perceptions were inaccurate but unsurprising, adding: “These misconceptions are as strong as ever. We have teachers thinking that pupils from below-average backgrounds won’t get in to Oxbridge, and if they do they won’t fit in. Unfortunately, there is a fair amount of truth to that, with the social mix largely from the upper incomes. We’re trying to tackle that and so are Oxbridge.”

Research published by the Sutton Trust three months ago found that pupils from 3 per cent of schools were taking a third of places at Oxford and Cambridge. Six per cent - or 200 schools – accounted for half of admissions; the trust is encouraging them to work with neighbouring state schools to help aspiring Oxbridge applicants.

A spokesman for University of Cambridge said: “The findings accord with our own anecdotal experiences about schools’ misconceptions regarding admissions, and the university recognises that more needs to be done to dispel them.”

Geoff Parks, the director of admissions, said: “Teachers are key influencers and advisers of young people and it is vital that the advice they give is based on up-to-date and accurate information.” The university is also increasing its provision of bursaries to counter the myth that it is more expensive to go to Cambridge.

Yesterday government figures showed that tuition fees of £3,000 per year deterred students from applying to university when they were first introduced.In England and Northern Ireland, where the higher fees were introduced in 2006, enrolments to full-time undergraduate courses fell, the Higher Education Statistics Agency said. In Scotland and Wales, where no top-up fees were charged, the number of students continued to increase.

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