After officials admitted Scottish applicants have an edge, charges of xenophobia and even racism have been hurled at Edinburgh University.

The Independent has reported that the university on its Web site said potential students from the north of England get next preference. That outrages heads of schools in southern England.

It was discovered by him that the policy while searching to figure out why only two of the 27 Brighton students who applied were admitted, said Richard Cairns, head of Brighton College on the south coast of England. He said Scottish students would be furious if they learned Oxford and Cambridge were giving preference to English applicants.

He said, "I think it is outrageous that any university should discriminate against young people because of where they live. Edinburgh has opted to turn in on itself in a manner that strikes me as potentially both illegal and racist."

It does not want local applicants to miss out on admissions because they have applied for a popular course, says the university Web site. (With Inputs from Agencies)