Ministers in tough test as wave of universities seek £9,000

On the deadline day for universities to submit their fee plans to the Office for Fair Access (Offa), figures show more than two-thirds of institutions aim to charge the maximum amount allowed in 2012 when the cap is almost trebled.

Of the 68 universities to declare their fees publicly so far, 46 institutions intend to charge £9,000 – including at least four in Yorkshire. This means the average fee level next year is likely to be closer to £8,500 than the £7,500 that had been predicted, and planned for, by Ministers.

Now the coalition could be forced to cut student numbers or university teaching funding as it needs to borrow more to cover the cost of fees – which are not paid for by students until they graduate and earn more than £21,000.

Sheffield Hallam and Leeds Trinity became the latest institutions in the region to announce their plans yesterday – with fees of £8,500 and £8,000 respectively.

Elsewhere, Bristol, Lincoln and Harper Adams agricultural university in Shropshire all announced fees of £9,000 while Bournemouth announced a range of fees rising to the maximum amount.

Unison’s head of higher education, Jon Richards, said: “Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds deserve a fair shot at getting into any university in the UK.

“With the going rate for a degree now at £9,000, the danger is that many will be put off.”