HEFCW's David Blaney: Funding gap risk for poorer students

Universities in Wales could fall behind those in the rest of the UK unless ministers change how students are funded, a finance body head fears.

Students from Wales pay the first £3,500 of tuition fees but the Welsh government picks up the tab for the rest wherever they study in the UK.

The amount "leaving" Wales to English universities is about £90m this year.

Dr David Blaney said it means less money is available to invest in Welsh colleges.

He is head of the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales, Hefcw.

As well as a historic funding gap at risk of widening, he is worried this could hit students from more deprived backgrounds particularly hard as they are more likely to study at a university near home.