Universities in England will be able to charge tuition fees of up to ã9,000 per year from 2012, as the government transfers much of the cost of courses from the state to students.
Fees will rise to ã6,000, with an upper tier of ã9,000 if universities ensure access for poorer students.
Universities Minister David Willetts said this was a progressive reform.
Labour's Gareth Thomas said the fee hike represented a tragedy for a whole generation of young people.
But Mr Willetts said the fees package would put universities' finance on a sustainable footing with extra freedoms and less bureaucracy.
He argued this would bring greater choice for students with a stronger focus on high quality teaching.
The National Union of Students dubbed the plan, which will mean almost a threefold increase, an outrage.
The announcement sparked an occupation of an administration building by students at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Students unfurled banners and called for other universities to join the protest.
Much of the proposed fee rise, up from the current ã3,290 per year, will replace funding cut from universities in last month's Spending Review.
This will mean that many courses, particularly in arts and humanities, will almost entirely depend on income from students' fees.
Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11677862
Fees will rise to ã6,000, with an upper tier of ã9,000 if universities ensure access for poorer students.
Universities Minister David Willetts said this was a progressive reform.
Labour's Gareth Thomas said the fee hike represented a tragedy for a whole generation of young people.
But Mr Willetts said the fees package would put universities' finance on a sustainable footing with extra freedoms and less bureaucracy.
He argued this would bring greater choice for students with a stronger focus on high quality teaching.
The National Union of Students dubbed the plan, which will mean almost a threefold increase, an outrage.
The announcement sparked an occupation of an administration building by students at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Students unfurled banners and called for other universities to join the protest.
Much of the proposed fee rise, up from the current ã3,290 per year, will replace funding cut from universities in last month's Spending Review.
This will mean that many courses, particularly in arts and humanities, will almost entirely depend on income from students' fees.
Full story: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-11677862
