Most universities to charge top-up fee maximum

Virtually all universities plan to charge the maximum £3,000 top-up fee next year, it was revealed today.

Sir Martin Harris, head of the Office for Fair Access (Offa) which grants the power to charge higher fees, said he knew of only one that wanted to charge less.

Some universities have yet to submit their plans, but Sir Martin said he expected only a "few" to pitch their fees at less than the maximum. So far, only Leeds Metropolitan University has confirmed it intends to set a lower rate - ?2,000 a year from next September, when the fees will come into force.

The Government justified its controversial top-up fee policy by saying that if universities were allowed to vary their charges up to a maximum of

3,000 a year, it would create a higher education market, with competition on price as well as quality and reputation.

However, the assurances ministers gave Labour backbenchers to get the legislation through Parliament last year have turned out to be hollow.

Sir Martin said the only competition he could see was in the form of bursaries offered to selected groups of students, including those from less well-off families or the disabled. He said: "There will be a very limited market in fees and a very substantial market in student support arrangements."

Universities had until yesterday to submit their top-up fee plans to Offa to guarantee a decision by 11 March.

Sir Martin said 127 universities and higher education colleges wanted to charge higher fees than the current ?1,150 maximum.