Leading universities are hoping to win the freedom to impose big increases in what they charge students for tuition after a review of fees that began yesterday.

The review, which is not expected to report until after the election, is being led by the former BP chief executive Lord Browne of Madingley, who has said in the past that a fourfold increase would not be unreasonable.

Vice-chancellors and other academics were careful not to put a figure on the maximum that they will be allowed to levy on students, saying that the independent review should consider evidence first. Top universities made clear that they were hoping for the freedom to raise fees substantially.

The Russell Group, representing research-based universities, called the current ceiling unviable. “Our leading institutions cannot continue to be internationally competitive, provide a first-rate teaching experience and offer generous support to disadvantaged students without access to increased funding,” Wendy Piatt, the group’s director-general, said.

Steve Smith, president of Universities UK, said that universities “must receive sufficient funding to remain world class and any changes to the fee regime must take account of the implications for widening participation”.

The choice of Lord Browne to chair the review appeared to be another indication that leading universities in particular would benefit from the new fees regime. In 2002 he called for funding to be increased “perhaps by a factor of four”, although this was before variable fees were introduced..>> Read More

Source: The Times Online
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/article6910226.ece