Cambridge University is considering expanding all its undergraduate colleges to make more places for disadvantaged students, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.

It comes as the university is under pressure to boost the number of students it admits from deprived families.

The vice-Chancellor's staff are in "detailed discussions" with 29 colleges about increasing their intake, as it embarks on one of the biggest expansion projects in its 800-year history.

Details will be outlined in the university's ten-year strategic plan, which is due to be published later this year.

Cambridge is also carrying out a review of the criteria it uses to judge whether or not prospective students are deemed to be from disadvantaged backgrounds.