More universities to charge £9,000

Three more universities have announced plans to charge students £9,000 or close to it from next year, as a new analysis suggested average fees could be £8,600.

While Leeds Metropolitan announced a new fee level of £8,500 for 2012, Reading said it would charge £9,000.

And Liverpool University confirmed that it is recommending to its council that the institution charges £9,000 to enable it "to continue to invest in and enhance the student experience as well as maintain its position as a leading Russell Group institution for widening access".

It comes as a study by Research Fortnight magazine concluded that half of England's universities will charge maximum £9,000 fees, while only a few will set a level less than £8,000.

In a statement on Monday, Leeds Metropolitan, a former polytechnic, said it was facing "difficult and tough choices" due to huge cuts in Government funding.

Leeds Metropolitan's chairman of the board, Lord Woolmer of Leeds, said: "We shall continue to secure cost savings but it is essential that we remain able to invest in high-quality university education and facilities for our students."

Reading University said it has an "enviable record of providing a high-quality student experience" which it is "committed to upholding". It added: "To sustain this level of support and investment for our students, in light of significant cuts in Government funding for universities, we will need to charge a fee of £9,000 across all our full-time undergraduate programmes."

As a result of the announcement by Leeds Metropolitan, and suggestions that St Mary's in Twickenham is likely to charge £8,000, Research Fortnight magazine is now forecasting average fees of £8,600.

After allowing for tuition fee waivers for poorer students, students could still be expected to pay £8,250.

"The consequences if this forecast is borne out will be severe, for the level of fees it suggests are significantly higher than the Government intended," the magazine said. PA