As number at top universities falls 10% in three years

dropped 5% in 2017 with fewer 18-year-olds applying to start courses this September.

There has also been a 6% drop in numbers of applications to study at universities in Wales from students across Wales, the UK, and the EU.

More than 2,000 pupils in Wales have joined the Seren Network, launched by the Welsh Government in 2015 to raise numbers of applications to Russell Group institutions.

A Welsh Government spokesman said 95% of those in Seren had applied, or expected to apply, to Russell Group institutions.

“Raising the aspirations and achievement levels of Welsh pupils so that they may realise their academic potential is a continuous priority for the Welsh Government, and the Seren Network plays a vital role in fulfilling this aspiration,” he said.

Oxbridge applications and offers of places to pupils from mainstream schools have risen in parts of Wales since Seren was launched.

This summer the first-ever Oxford University summer school aimed solely at high-achieving students from Wales was held at Jesus College. Oxford and Cambridge universities say they want to encourage applications from Wales and have held student conferences across Wales, including an event at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium in March.

Figures released by the Seren Network earlier this summer showed its Flintshire/Wrexham hub reported that of its 103 students 35 applied for a place at Oxford or Cambridge this year, 26 of whom – 74% – had secured offers.

One of the schools represented in the hub, Alun School in Mold, said it had a school record of six pupils getting Oxbridge interviews, two of whom had offers.

In Seren’s Swansea-Neath Port Talbot hub, which has 306 students, 30 pupils from Gower College alone applied to Oxbridge this year.

A further evaluation of Seren applications is taking place now, a spokeswoman said.