The Bac - being introduced in 18 centres this month - involves a core plus options from traditional qualifications such as A-levels.

Now the Universities and Colleges Admission Service (Ucas) has decided the core will be worth 120 points.

This equals an A grade A-level in terms of a university application.

The Welsh Assembly education minister, Jane Davidson, said: "The decision now means that the Bac will have hard currency in terms of university admissions."

The core components are:

• elements relevant to contemporary Welsh life, including "a distinct Welsh cultural element focused on Wales and the World"
• preparation for employment, including work-related education and careers guidance
• community-centred activity
• key skills: communication, application of number, information technology, working with others, problem solving, improving one's own learning
• personal and social education
• European awareness - including language modules.

The Ucas tariff is intended to establish equivalencies between different types of qualifications.

The Ucas board's decision to allocate 120 points to the Welsh Bac core follows the recommendation of a specially convened expert panel.

Some universities do make offers to prospective students using the tariff. Some of the most popular still use A-level grades, however.