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| Students face fees of up to £9,000 | Students face fees of up to £9,000 |
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| By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent | By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent |
| Students in universities in England face tuition fees of up to £9,000 per year from 2012, as the government reveals its plans for higher education. | Students in universities in England face tuition fees of up to £9,000 per year from 2012, as the government reveals its plans for higher education. |
| The coalition's response to Lord Browne's funding review will be published on Wednesday. | The coalition's response to Lord Browne's funding review will be published on Wednesday. |
| Universities will be able to charge £6,000 per year with a higher tier of £9,000 - nearly treble existing levels - if poorer students receive support. | Universities will be able to charge £6,000 per year with a higher tier of £9,000 - nearly treble existing levels - if poorer students receive support. |
| Student unions have warned that MPs will face a "huge backlash". | Student unions have warned that MPs will face a "huge backlash". |
| Much of this rise in fees, up from the current £3,290 per year, will replace public funding withdrawn from universities in last month's Spending Review. | Much of this rise in fees, up from the current £3,290 per year, will replace public funding withdrawn from universities in last month's Spending Review. |
| It will mean that many arts and humanities courses will now depend on fee income, rather than state funding. | It will mean that many arts and humanities courses will now depend on fee income, rather than state funding. |
| Balancing act | Balancing act |
| National Union of Students president Aaron Porter says it is unfair to "remove almost all funding for teaching in universities, and force students to foot the bill". | National Union of Students president Aaron Porter says it is unfair to "remove almost all funding for teaching in universities, and force students to foot the bill". |
| Ministers have been trying to achieve a balancing act between a sustainable funding system for universities and a political deal which will head off a Liberal Democrat backbench rebellion. | Ministers have been trying to achieve a balancing act between a sustainable funding system for universities and a political deal which will head off a Liberal Democrat backbench rebellion. |
| Before the general election, Lib Dem MPs signed personal pledges to vote against any increase. | Before the general election, Lib Dem MPs signed personal pledges to vote against any increase. |
| Students have threatened to "hound" Lib Dem MPs over this promise to student voters - with Chris Huhne facing protesters in London and Business Secretary Vince Cable having to call off a visit to Oxford University. | |
| As such, the funding package to be announced by the Universities Minister David Willetts at 1230 GMT will be accompanied by more progressive measures, including requirements that universities charging the highest fees will have to show support for widening access to students from economically poorer backgrounds. | As such, the funding package to be announced by the Universities Minister David Willetts at 1230 GMT will be accompanied by more progressive measures, including requirements that universities charging the highest fees will have to show support for widening access to students from economically poorer backgrounds. |
| This would include outreach programmes, summer schools and targeted scholarships. And if the universities fail to meet certain benchmarks, then the Office of Fair Access, a government quango, would step in and force them to spend more cash on helping disadvantaged students. | This would include outreach programmes, summer schools and targeted scholarships. And if the universities fail to meet certain benchmarks, then the Office of Fair Access, a government quango, would step in and force them to spend more cash on helping disadvantaged students. |
| Education Secretary Michael Gove told the BBC that the universities would not be forced to accept specified quotas of students from poor homes, but would be asked to show they were "energetically pursuing" them. | Education Secretary Michael Gove told the BBC that the universities would not be forced to accept specified quotas of students from poor homes, but would be asked to show they were "energetically pursuing" them. |
| Interest rates for loan repayments and earnings thresholds could also be adjusted to give more support to disadvantaged students. | Interest rates for loan repayments and earnings thresholds could also be adjusted to give more support to disadvantaged students. |
| Under the plans, students would take out loans to pay the fees. But they would pay the loans back only once they graduated and got a job paying more than £21,000, much higher than the current threshold of £15,000. | Under the plans, students would take out loans to pay the fees. But they would pay the loans back only once they graduated and got a job paying more than £21,000, much higher than the current threshold of £15,000. |
| Graduates would pay 9% cent of their income above £21,000 per year to pay off both the loan, and an above-inflation rate of interest. | Graduates would pay 9% cent of their income above £21,000 per year to pay off both the loan, and an above-inflation rate of interest. |
| It is expected that any graduates who wish to repay all or some of their loan more quickly would have to pay a penalty to compensate for the interest they would no longer pay. | It is expected that any graduates who wish to repay all or some of their loan more quickly would have to pay a penalty to compensate for the interest they would no longer pay. |
| But the BBC has learned that better-off students will still be able to pay up front for their university education and avoid taking out a loan altogether. | But the BBC has learned that better-off students will still be able to pay up front for their university education and avoid taking out a loan altogether. |
| Mr Gove said that under the new system "there's no barrier for people coming from poorer homes, and there's no penalty for people who choose to go into a low paying job". | Mr Gove said that under the new system "there's no barrier for people coming from poorer homes, and there's no penalty for people who choose to go into a low paying job". |
| However, the youth wing of the Liberal Democrat party railed against the plan. | However, the youth wing of the Liberal Democrat party railed against the plan. |
| "The current burden of debt is already weighing heavily on many students, and putting many others off going to University altogether," said Liberal Youth chairman Martin Shapland. | "The current burden of debt is already weighing heavily on many students, and putting many others off going to University altogether," said Liberal Youth chairman Martin Shapland. |
| "Raising the cap will only increase this problem," he said. | "Raising the cap will only increase this problem," he said. |
| 'Emergency funding' | 'Emergency funding' |
| Universities will have to decide whether this political deal will secure their long-term funding. | Universities will have to decide whether this political deal will secure their long-term funding. |
| Malcolm Grant, provost of University College London, has warned that spending cuts in higher education have turned the process into an "emergency funding measure". | Malcolm Grant, provost of University College London, has warned that spending cuts in higher education have turned the process into an "emergency funding measure". |
| He also expressed regret at the apparent rejection of Lord Browne's proposal for universities to decide their own fees, without any fixed cap. | He also expressed regret at the apparent rejection of Lord Browne's proposal for universities to decide their own fees, without any fixed cap. |
| Michael Arthur, vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds, and chairman of the Russell Group of top universities, told the BBC's Today programme that the plans were a "very important development". | Michael Arthur, vice-chancellor of the University of Leeds, and chairman of the Russell Group of top universities, told the BBC's Today programme that the plans were a "very important development". |
| He said: "What this does is send a very loud signal that the government recognises the importance of higher education to the future of our country, its economy and our ability as universities to help the country out of recession." | He said: "What this does is send a very loud signal that the government recognises the importance of higher education to the future of our country, its economy and our ability as universities to help the country out of recession." |
| Lee Elliot Major is research and policy director of the Sutton Trust, which supports projects that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds. | Lee Elliot Major is research and policy director of the Sutton Trust, which supports projects that provide educational opportunities for young people from non-privileged backgrounds. |
| He said: "I think we would totally take on board that universities need extra money but we believe there needs to be a number of safeguards in place if they are going to charge higher fees, to ensure that they attract academically able pupils from all social backgrounds." | He said: "I think we would totally take on board that universities need extra money but we believe there needs to be a number of safeguards in place if they are going to charge higher fees, to ensure that they attract academically able pupils from all social backgrounds." |
| There have also been warnings about a two-tier system emerging from the split level of fees. | There have also been warnings about a two-tier system emerging from the split level of fees. |
| David Barclay, president of Oxford University Student Union, says: "A two-cap system will mean a two-tier system returning us to the dark days of some universities for the many and some universities for the few." | David Barclay, president of Oxford University Student Union, says: "A two-cap system will mean a two-tier system returning us to the dark days of some universities for the many and some universities for the few." |
| Mr Barclay has been invited to meet Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on Wednesday, as the coalition tries to sell the funding package. | Mr Barclay has been invited to meet Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on Wednesday, as the coalition tries to sell the funding package. |
| The changes in tuition fees will apply to universities in England. Scottish students studying in Scotland do not have to pay any fees. In Northern Ireland and Wales, fees are currently charged up to a maximum of £3,290. | The changes in tuition fees will apply to universities in England. Scottish students studying in Scotland do not have to pay any fees. In Northern Ireland and Wales, fees are currently charged up to a maximum of £3,290. |
| Will you be affected by a rise in tuition fees? Send us your comments using the form below. | Will you be affected by a rise in tuition fees? Send us your comments using the form below. |