Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Universities fear cuts may be compounded by fee rise veto

Education Editor,Richard Garner
Wednesday 06 October 2010 19:00 EDT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Universities could face a "double whammy" of swingeing spending cuts and the threat of MPs defeating moves to charge students higher fees, vice-chancellors warn today.

The prospect of MPs vetoing proposals for higher fees, which will be outlined in the Browne committee of inquiry into student finance next week, would pose a significant threat to Britain's standing in the higher education world, they add.

Standards would decline, with students having less contact time with their lecturers, says a submission by Universities UK, the umbrella body representing vice-chancellors, to the Coalition Government's comprehensive spending review.

"My biggest worry remains that the spending review will be carried out confidently in the knowledge that Lord Browne's review will introduce replacement funding for teaching," said Professor Steve Smith, vice-chancellor of Exeter University and president of Universities UK, in a foreword to the report. "Yet we face the very real possibility that Lord Browne's recommendations cannot be accepted by the UK Parliament."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in