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The cream of Welsh students are choosing to study at universities in England, we can reveal.

Figures obtained by WalesOnline provide clear evidence that Wales’ best young brains are being lost to higher education institutions across the border.

They also highlight the apparent gulf in stature that exists between Welsh universities and their English counterparts.

A table based on average tariff points – the system employed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (Ucas) which assigns points to exam results such as A-levels to calculate entry into higher education – reveals a marked difference in the grades students need in Wales and England.

Welsh-domiciled learners had accumulated, on average, 305 tariff points to study in Wales at the last count in 2011-12, compared to the 362 points required by those going to university in England.

It means that, on average, Welsh students needed 57 more points to study in England than they required in Wales – and the gap is widening.

In 2010-11, the gap stood at 53 points – Welsh students needing 294 points for Welsh universities and 347 points for those in England – and a year earlier, average scores stood at 285 and 337 (a gap of 52 points).

A breakdown by institution shows the majority of universities in Wales accepted students from England at a higher tariff rate, with only Trinity Saint David asking less of English-based learners.

Cardiff University, a member of the prestigious Russell Group, accepted an average of 430 points from English students but just 412 points from Welsh students. The average tariff score for Welsh students at all Russell Group institutions was 423.

By comparison, the average point score obtained by Welsh-domiciled learners studying at Oxbridge was 549 in 2011-12 – up from 522 a year earlier.

Sir John Cadogan, president of Wales’ Learned Society of leading academics, said the figures were cause for concern.

“The Welsh Government has ensured that the already shaky financial security, hence success, of our universities, is now increasingly in the hands of the students who will take their money to what they perceive to be the best universities,” he said.

“Once again we see that our best students are crossing the border, likely not to return to Wales. This is no surprise and should worry [the] Government.”

Under the Ucas tariff system, A-levels and other school and college courses are each given a points score.

Universities then use the points to make offers to students applying to higher education, with an A at A-level yielding 120 points, a B grade 100 points and a C grade 80 points.

A spokesman for Cardiff University said the new tariff figures fail to reflect the variety of reasons why Welsh students choose to study outside Wales.

“Many choose to study elsewhere to gain new social and life experiences or pursue courses like veterinary science and others that are not currently on offer in Wales,” he said.

“Cardiff University continues to recruit some of Wales’ brightest and most able students with the university’s average tariff points higher than both the current Welsh and English average and the highest in Wales.”

A spokesman for umbrella body Higher Education Wales said: “A range of factors dictate where a student ultimately decides to study, be this in Wales or further afield, and an assessment on tariff points alone can therefore be misleading.

“While we cannot comment on acceptance criteria in other parts of the UK and therefore any tariff differences, we can note that treating each person as an individual and treating each application on its merits is something the sector prides itself on.”

Student group NUS Wales said it supports students having the choice to attend universities that are best for them, whether they be in Wales or across the border.

The Welsh Government said a key part of its new higher education policy focuses on working with universities to encourage high-calibre students to stay in Wales, while also attracting the brightest from elsewhere.

It added: “We want our universities to deliver excellence at every level if they are to be successful, renowned and attractive to students in the future. Through our new policy statement we’ll be working with the sector to ensure this.”

Average tariff scores for English and Welsh undergraduates at Welsh universities, 2011-12

University Students from England Students from Wales

Newport* 259 242

Glyndwr 212 212

Cardiff Met 279 270

Glamorgan* 298 275

Swansea Met* 214 203

Trinity St David* 234 255

Aberystwyth 315 301

Bangor 304 290

Cardiff 430 412

Swansea 337 327

* figures taken before mergers