As the UK government considers controversial proposals to introduce variable tuition fees in England, we look at university funding in five different countries and ask how it affects students studying there. Click on the links on the right to read about them.INDIA: HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
India has invested heavily in higher education.
 | Delhi history student Kaamna Dutt, 19, (left) says fees are low but other costs mean it's a struggle for her father to fund her degree |
Most universities are state-funded. Tuition fees are low, but there are some hidden costs such as library and laboratory fees and accommodation. Specialist institutes such as engineering, medical and business schools charge much higher fees.
Internationally reputed Indian universities such as the Indian Institute of Technologies and the Indian Institute of Managements receive large government grants, but the money goes more towards equipment and facilities, than meeting students' costs.
There are some private colleges which charge high tuition fees but they are relatively few in number. Student loans are still a relatively unknown concept in India and are mainly used by those looking to study abroad.KAAMNA'S STORY
Kaamna Dutt, 19, is in her first year studying history at St Stephen's College, Delhi University.
The college is highly subsidised and the tuition fee is a little less than 100 Indian rupees (about �1/$2), but college charges add up to 9,000 rupees (�110/$200) a year.
|  My father is the only earning family member and still supporting my three older brothers so I have only added to his financial burden  |
"The college charges us a lot in terms of other fees such as library fee, college maintenance fee and the ubiquitous 'miscellaneous fees' - I really don't know what is included in the last one there but that's the highest fee we pay the college," she said. Kaamna is from outside Delhi and was not able to get a place in the college's halls of residence, so she also pays 4,000 rupees (�49/$88) a month for board and lodging.
This pushes the total yearly cost of her education to "a whopping 100,000 rupees (�1,218/$2,210)".
Her father offered to pay for a basic degree. "He has had to take out an educational loan for me as well as remove some money from his pension fund to pay for me.
"The college does offer scholarships for needy students but since I come from a middle class family, I don't qualify for them.
"Initially, my father was against my coming to St Stephen's because of the financial situation back home, but after a lot of arguing, debating and unpleasantness, he finally relented.
"This has affected my future plans as now I must get a job and make sure I help my father repay this loan.
"My father is the only earning family member and still supporting my three older brothers so I have only added to his financial burden.
"I would like to study further but those plans may have to be put on hold until the time this loan is paid off."
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