What brownereview recommends

n The Government would underwrite fees of up to 6,000. After that, universities would pay a tapered levy to cover the costs of providing students with finance upfront.

n Universities charging more than 6,000 a year would keep smaller amounts of that fee, for example an institution charging 7,000 for a course, will keep 94 per cent of the fee.

n The review sets out figures up to 12,000 per year – universities charging this will still keep nearly three-quarters (73 per cent) of the fee.

n Students would not have to pay fees upfront.

n The earning threshold at which graduates would have to start repaying loans would rise from 15,000 to 21,000.

n Unpaid loans would be written off after 30 years.

n Higher-earning graduates would pay back their loans at an interest rate equal to the Government’s cost of borrowing, while those earning below the threshold would just see their loans rise in line with inflation.

n Every student would also be entitled to a flat-rate maintenance loan of 3,750.

n Student numbers should increase by 10 per cent over the next three years, and for no restrictions on the numbers universities can recruit.

n The Government should continue investing in “priority” subjects such as science and technology, medicine, nursing and healthcare as well as “strategically important” language courses.