Women are outperforming men at university according to research by the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI).

The study shows that female students of all ages and social and ethnic groups now outstrip male undergraduates in almost every subject including law and medicine. They are also more likely to go to leading universities and achieve better grades.

More than 49 per cent of women now go on to higher education compared to 37.8 per cent of men who study for degrees.

Women have almost reached the Government’s target of half of all young people becoming graduates, but the low percentage for men drags the overall figure down.

Researchers found that the gap between the sexes is widening most dramatically between the poorest.

They argue that GCSE exams, which heavily favour female styles of learning, exacerbate the differences in performance later in life. They warn that plummeting achievement among young men risks creating a disillusioned and excluded male generation — particularly among the working class.

The number of women undergraduates first overtook men in 1992-3 and they now outnumber male students at every university except Oxford and Cambridge, where the balance is about level.

The strides taken by women in higher education have been matched by soaring numbers of men underperforming, the report suggests.

The study says that the situation reflects a “mindset that continues to see males as advantaged and females as disadvantaged.” It concludes: “Whatever the truth in society at large — that is emphatically not the case in higher education.”.

Women are outclassing men at university, according to research by the Higher Education Policy Institute. They are also outstripping men in most subjects, including law and medicine, and are more likely to go to leading universities.

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Cambridge university became the first major University in Britain to confirm it would employ the new A* A-level grade part of its admissions offer. If you have been mugging hard to get the minimum three A’s at next year’s A-levels to get into Cambridge University, you may have to work harder.

The move comes despite a decision by other leading universities including Oxford to reject the A* amid fears it will lead to a huge rise in the number of teenagers from independent and grammar schools being admitted.

They said the move would potentially discriminate against pupils from state comprehensives.

Last summer, more than a quarter of A-level exams sat in England, Wales and Northern Ireland were awarded an A grade and the rate has more than doubled in 20 years.

University admissions tutors have admitted that the rise has made it almost impossible to distinguish between average and bright applicants. It has led to many institutions bringing in their own entrance tests.

Under sweeping reforms of exams taken by around 300,000 teenagers every year, top students leaving schools and sixth-forms will be awarded the new higher A* in 2010. Yesterday, Cambridge announced it would revise its “standard offer” from AAA to A*AA for entry next year.

In 2007, Cambridge was forced to reject around 5,500 sixth-formers who applied with straight As in exams. UK’s National Committee for Educational Excellence last October urged universities to ignore the A* grade for the first few years after its launch until the benchmark has been tested. At that time, Cambridge indicated it would follow this line, reported the Press Association. But with this latest announcement, Cambridge appears to have reversed its decision.

Dr Geoff Parks, the university’s director of admissions, told The Times that the present grades could not ‘differentiate enough between the top end of the ability range. Our current level of offer is not actually a meaningful hurdle. We want to test the water.’

The head of the Association of School and College Leaders, Mr John Dunford, said: ‘We are disappointed that Cambridge has gone down this route, especially since other universities are likely to follow…

‘The inevitable consequence is that it will devalue A and B grades and increase stress and anxiety among bright 17 and 18-year-olds.’

While independent schools welcomed the move, Labour MPs, teaching unions and education experts expressed concern that Cambridge’s move would be used to ‘fillet out’ state school pupils.

In 2007, 59 per cent of its intake were from state schools.

Mr Barry Sheerman, the chairman of the Commons’ Children, Schools and Families Committee, told The Times: ‘I’m very concerned that some of our greatest universities are becoming no-go zones for children from normal backgrounds.’

But Dr Parks Dunford assured: ‘It’s important to recognise that the usual checks and balances will be in place to ensure that all Cambridge applicants will be given careful, detailed consideration and that this decision won’t disadvantage students from any one given background over another.’

The Report did not state if the requirement will include foreign students applying for places in the prestigious university.

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