Anger as Executive imposes higher fees on English students

• Increase in fees for English students studying in Scotland

• Move intended to protect interests of Scottish students

• Universities fear plans could lead to increased 'parochialism'

Key quote

"We have to strike the right balance between protecting the interests of Scottish domiciled students and ensuring Scotland continues to be an attractive destination for all students. Fees should be sufficiently high to affect demand but not too high to price Scottish universities out of the UK market. With this package of measures, I believe we've got it right." - NICOL STEPHEN, ENTERPRISE AND LIFELONG LEARNING MINISTER

Story in full MINISTERS imposed a 42 per cent increase in fees on English students who come to Scottish universities yesterday, provoking immediate claims of unfair discrimination.

From next year, those from south of the border wishing to study for degrees here will have to pay 1,700 a year instead of the current 1,200.

And medical students from England will see fees soar to 2,700 a year as part of ministers' attempts to protect places for Scottish-born undergraduates.

The change has been made in an attempt to reduce the growing number of English students - so-called "fee refugees" - who are heading north for their university education.

But the position is in contrast to that of Scottish students who choose to go England. They have their fees paid - as do students from elsewhere in the European Union who come to Scotland.

Scottish students who stay in Scotland will continue to have their fees paid for them.

When the then Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Minister Jim Wallace announced the plan two weeks ago, The Scotsman revealed that leading Scottish universities had voiced concerns at the plans, claiming that it could lead to increased "parochialism" within the higher education sector.

However, Nicol Stephen, Mr Wallace's successor, yesterday confirmed that the Scottish Executive intended to press ahead.

Mr Stephen said: "We have to strike the right balance between protecting the interests of Scottish domiciled students and ensuring Scotland continues to be an attractive destination for all students.

"Fees should be sufficiently high to affect demand but not too high to price Scottish universities out of the UK market. With this package of measures, I believe we've got it right."

On the decision to increase medical fees by a further 1,000, Mr Stephen said it was necessary to ensure that the National Health Service in Scotland was not hit by a staffing crisis.

He said: "We know that Scottish graduates from schools here are twice as likely to be working for NHS Scotland ten years after graduation compared to students from the rest of the UK.

The fees rise was attacked last night by Tory MEP Chris Heaton-Harris, who accused the Executive of "blatant discrimination" and predicted that the European Commission may eventually step into the row.

He said: "If they had decided to discriminate on the grounds of religion rather than nationality, then there really would have been an uproar.

"They are clearly increasing the amount of discrimination by increasing the cost for English, Welsh and Northern Irish students."

One student is already planning legal action against the Scottish Executive for discrimination.

Emma Block, 22, a third-year philosophy undergraduate from Newcastle who is studying at Glasgow University, claims it is unfair she is charged higher fees because she is English.

Meanwhile student leaders and the SNP last night claimed the announcement represented the introduction of top-up fees by the back door.

Melanie Ward, the president of the National Union of Students in Scotland, said: "Charging different amounts for different courses leads students to choose their course based on price, rather than talent or ability.

"We are concerned that this measure is the first step on the ladder to top-up fees in Scotland."

Fiona Hyslop, the SNP's education spokeswoman, accused Mr Stephen - the new leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, who are opposed to tuition fees - of "blatant hypocrisy".

She said: "What is now being proposed is a top-up fee across the board and the swingeing rise for medical students is particularly worrying, since a third of English medical students studying in Scotland currently stay in Scotland to work in the NHS after graduation."

However, Robin McAlpine, a spokesman for the umbrella body Universities Scotland, told The Scotsman: "This is the best response they could reasonably make to an untidy situation."