Euan Blair to read ancient history at Bristol after gaining three A grades

Euan Blair, the Prime Minister's eldest son, has won a place at Bristol University, Downing Street said yesterday.

Euan, 18, a pupil at the London Oratory school in Fulham will study ancient history when he arrives in the autumn. Downing Street said Euan obtained three As – including one in general studies – and a C grade in his A-levels. "He is delighted and looking forward to going to a university which has such an excellent reputation," a spokesman said.

Bristol University, which was founded in 1876, is regularly listed in league tables as one of the top 10 universities in Britain. It is one of the 19-strong Russell group of the country's top universities.

Bristol's ancient history course is one of the highest rated in Britain and there were 12 applicants for each place. Thirty students will start the course at the end of September.

Applicants for ancient history at Bristol need an A-level points score of 340. Only Oxford, which requires 360 points, demands more. Euan's results would give him a score of 440.

A spokesman for Bristol University said: "Three thousand three hundred new students will be joining the university in the autumn.

"We are looking forward to welcoming all of them, including Euan Blair."

Bristol won praise earlier this year from ministers for being one of the universities, along with Nottingham, to pioneer the lowering of A-level entry requirements for children from deprived backgrounds for some courses.

Bristol's alumni include at least two of his father's ministers, Paul Boateng and Dawn Primarolo.

Earlier this year Michael Beloff, QC, the president of Trinity College, Oxford, revealed that Euan had been offered a conditional place to study at the college.