Universities in England will be able to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 per year starting in 2012, which represents almost a threefold increase from current rates and will transfer much of the cost of higher education from the state to students. While the government argues this will provide universities more stability and autonomy, critics say it will negatively impact access to university for lower-income students and place a significant financial burden on students.

1. Research
Universities in England will be able to chargetuition fees of up to £9,000 per year from 2012, as the
government transfers much of the cost of courses from the state to students.
Fees will rise to £6,000, with an upper tier of £9,000 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 changes in tuition fees will apply to universities in England. Scottish students studying in Scotland do not have to
pay any fees. In Northern Ireland and Wales, fees are currently charged up to a maximum of £3,290
I asked a group of sixth form student has the rise in tuition fees changed whether or not they are going to go to
university?