Universities want to double fees

University chiefs said yesterday that tuition fees need to more than double to up to 7,000 pounds ($9,800) a year, a move which unions argue would deter poorer students and leave graduates with massive debts.

Universities UK, which represents the heads of high education bodies, commissioned a study to examine the effect of different rises ahead of a review of the fees later this year.

Currently universities can charge up to around 3,000 pounds a year in tuition fees, which were brought in despite a large scale revolt by backbench Labour MPs in 2004.