Many universities in England and Wales want a sharp increase in tuition fees, a survey by BBC News has concluded.
Many universities in England and Wales want a sharp increase in tuition fees, a survey by BBC News has concluded.
Two thirds of vice chancellors, speaking anonymously, said they needed to raise fees, suggesting levels of between £4,000 and £20,000 per year.
Two thirds of vice chancellors, speaking anonymously, said they needed to raise fees, suggesting levels of between £4,000 and £20,000 per year.
More than half of university heads want students to pay at least £5,000 per year or for there to be no upper limit.
More than half of university heads want students to pay at least £5,000 per year or for there to be no upper limit.
Higher Education Minister David Lammy said there was an "important debate to be had".
The National Union of Students has warned of debts of £32,000 for students if fees rise to £7,000 per year.
The National Union of Students has warned of debts of £32,000 for students if fees rise to £7,000 per year.
The controversy over tuition fees is set to be re-opened, five years after it sparked one of the biggest backbench rebellions faced by the Labour government.
Higher debt
Higher debt
The controversy over tuition fees is set to be re-opened, five years after it sparked one of the biggest backbench rebellions faced by the Labour government.
University fees must be reviewed this year by the government - and there are already arguments about whether the present £3,500 cap on fees should be lifted. University chiefs are considering fees of £5,000 or more
University fees must be reviewed this year by the government - and there are already arguments about whether the present £3,500 cap on fees should be lifted. University chiefs are considering fees of £5,000 or more
Any changes will affect about a million students on undergraduate courses.
Any changes will affect about a million students on undergraduate courses.
Universities UK has set out the consequences of fee levels of £5,000 and £7,000 - arguing that if fees reached £7,000 a market of differently priced courses would emerge.
Universities UK has set out the consequences of fee levels of £5,000 and £7,000 - arguing that if fees reached £7,000 a market of differently priced courses would emerge.
This has angered the National Union of Students, which wants to entirely replace the fee system with repayments linked to later earnings.
This has angered the National Union of Students, which wants to entirely replace the fee system with repayments linked to later earnings.
"In the context of the current recession, it is extremely arrogant for university vice chancellors to be fantasising about charging their students even higher fees and plunging them into over £32,000 of debt," said NUS president Wes Streeting.
"In the context of the current recession, it is extremely arrogant for university vice chancellors to be fantasising about charging their students even higher fees and plunging them into over £32,000 of debt," said NUS president Wes Streeting.
Labour backbenchers are also mobilising on the issue - with MP Paul Farrelly, a former fee rebel, putting down a motion in the House of Commons warning against any plans to hike fees.
Labour backbenchers are also mobilising on the issue - with MP Paul Farrelly, a former fee rebel, putting down a motion in the House of Commons warning against any plans to hike fees.
Mr Farrelly said the government would ignore the risks "at its peril" of pushing through another fee increase.
Mr Farrelly said the government would ignore the risks "at its peril" of pushing through another fee increase.
Recession and resistance
Recession and resistance
The BBC survey, gathering the views of 53 university vice chancellors, showed a wide range of expectations of the scale of any increase - from £4,000 to £20,000 per year.
The BBC survey, gathering the views of 53 university vice chancellors, showed a wide range of expectations of the scale of any increase - from £4,000 to £20,000 per year.
There is an important debate to be had now, which is about how we maintain the world class status of our higher education sector Higher Education Minister David Lammy
There were also some expectations of differences in fees between universities and courses - with more than a quarter saying they would not charge the full amount of fees.
There were also some expectations of differences in fees between universities and courses - with more than a quarter saying they would not charge the full amount of fees.
About one in 10 wanted the cap to be scrapped altogether, allowing universities to charge whatever they wanted.
About one in 10 wanted the cap to be scrapped altogether, allowing universities to charge whatever they wanted.
There was widespread support for the principle of fees among vice-chancellors - with three out of four believing they had been a successful policy and nine out of 10 saying they should not be scrapped.
There was widespread support for the principle of fees among vice-chancellors - with three out of four believing they had been a successful policy and nine out of 10 saying they should not be scrapped.
Two thirds believed that fees had not deterred applications from students from poorer families.
Two thirds believed that fees had not deterred applications from students from poorer families.
The need to review fees, part of the deal struck in 2004, will be highly sensitive for Labour - raising questions about its appeal both to its left wing and to middle-class supporters.
The need to review fees, part of the deal struck in 2004, will be highly sensitive for Labour - raising questions about its appeal both to its left wing and to middle-class supporters.
'Won the argument'
'Won the argument'
The government has so far refused to be drawn into speculation about any changes in charges paid by students.
The government has so far refused to be drawn into speculation about any changes in charges paid by students.
"We made a commitment to Parliament during the last fees review that we would return to the issue only after the first cohort of students paying under the current regime had finished their degrees," said Mr Lammy. "We are not breaking that commitment.
"There is an important debate to be had now, which is about how we maintain the world class status of our higher education sector."
Charles Clarke, who as education secretary took on fees rebels in 2004, says that the government has been proved right about introducing fees.
Charles Clarke, who as education secretary took on fees rebels in 2004, says that the government has been proved right about introducing fees.
"We won the argument overwhelmingly," he commented - arguing that the move raised the funds needed by university, without deterring poorer students.
"We won the argument overwhelmingly," he commented - arguing that the move raised the funds needed by university, without deterring poorer students.
But Mr Clarke warns that any further increase during a recession is going to be very difficult.
But Mr Clarke warns that any further increase during a recession is going to be very difficult.
"There is no doubt that in the recession there will be a lot of resistance to thinking the fee level should be significantly raised."
"There is no doubt that in the recession there will be a lot of resistance to thinking the fee level should be significantly raised."
The Conservatives, who dropped their opposition to fees, accuse the government of planning to "push their long-promised review ever further into the long grass".
The Conservatives, who dropped their opposition to fees, accuse the government of planning to "push their long-promised review ever further into the long grass".
"The student finance review should start now and be as comprehensive as possible," said university spokesman David Willetts.
"The student finance review should start now and be as comprehensive as possible," said university spokesman David Willetts.
The Liberal Democrats said the question of raising fees would be very different if seen from the students' perspective.
The Liberal Democrats said the question of raising fees would be very different if seen from the students' perspective.
The party's university spokesman Stephen Williams called on the government to publish its fee review before the next election.
The party's university spokesman Stephen Williams called on the government to publish its fee review before the next election.
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