HL Deb 27 January 2004 vol 656 c31WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the variable fees which they are planning for universities are to be variable only between institutions, or also between different subjects in the same institution. [HL801]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Department for Education and Skills (Baroness Ashton of Upholland)

The Higher Education Bill, published on 8 January, enables higher education institutions to set their own fees, up to a maximum of £3,000 a year, with effect from 2006; individual institutions would be able, if they wished, to charge different fees for different courses. Institutions that wished to charge above the present standard fee (£1,125 in 2003–04) would only be able to do so if they had in place an access plan approved by the Director of Fair Access. The access plan will include details of the action the institution will take to safeguard access, including offering financial support (including bursaries) and running outreach activities.