OXFORD University is among those which have fallen victim to hundreds of cyber attacks, it emerged yesterday.

Some of the country’s top institutions have seen cyber security breaches double in the last two years, according to data acquired under freedom of information laws.

There were more than 1,100 cyber security breaches, including unauthorised access of accounts at Oxford University, the University of Warwick and University College London among others in 2016-2017, figures showed.

Experts have warned that research gathered at great expense over many years could be stolen by hackers.

According to data acquired by The Times, Oxford University recorded 515 incidents of ‘unauthorised access’.

Oxford University spokesman Stephen Rouse said the vast majority of unauthorised access attacks were remedied before any access could actually take place.

He added: “We have strong security systems and almost all attacks are repulsed.”