What are the choices in Scotland?

The Scottish Government has ruled out tuition fees or a return to the graduate endowment scheme, but has not committed itself to any other funding system.

Q. When will a decision be taken about the future of higher education funding in Scotland?

A Scottish Government green paper will be published in December, although any possible changes to the system are unlikely to be introduced until 2012-13 at the earliest.

Q. What fees do English students attending Scottish universities currently have to pay?

The fee level for new students entering in 2010 is 1,820 per year.

Q. What levels will fees be set at for English students at Scottish universities in the future?

No decision has been taken on the future fees that English students at Scottish universities will have to pay.

Q. What is the current tuition fee cap set at in England?

The level of fees for students at English institutions is currently set at 3,290 per year.

Q. When will graduates have to start repaying the cost of their degrees under the Browne proposals?

When they earn 21,000 a year or more - up from the current 15,000.

Q. What interest rates will students have to pay?

The interest rate at which graduates pay back their loans will be at the government's cost of borrowing - inflation plus 2.2 per cent.

However, those students earning below 21,000 will pay no real interest rate. Their loan balance will increase in line with inflation .