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.DENMARK: HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS
Higher education in Denmark offers either more general academic courses or specialist courses aimed at specific professions.
 | Computer science student Mikkel Joergensen gets his course free and a subsidy to put towards his other costs |
Institutions are divided into traditional universities, which also carry out research, and those offering specialised training. There are minimum entrance requirements in terms of qualifications, but study is free - there are no registration or tuition fees.
Student support, in the form of taxable state grants and non-taxable loans, aims to cover living costs and the purchase of books and other materials.
It is available to Danish citizens aged over 18, embarking on a full-time programme of study of at least three months.
Most receive up to about �6,000 a year. They can continue to receive this if they undertake part of their study at a university overseas. MIKKEL'S STORY
Mikkel Joergensen, 21, studies computer science at the Copenhagen University. Although the course is free, the other costs add up.
"I live in an apartment, which is about 1,500 Kr (�139/$251) per month, plus 1,500 Kr in food and other costs, plus another 600 Kr (�56/$100) for transportation," he said.
|  The fact that we can get the courses for free makes me feel that the university is well enough funded.  |
The money comes solely from a state subsidy, which is about 3,700 Kr (�343/$619) after taxes. Mikkel also has a 30,000 Kr (�2,781$5,020) loan, which he uses for the deposit on his apartment.
"Hopefully I can use some of the subsidy to pay back this loan, but other than that, I don't think it will affect me because its such a small loan," he said.
"My choice of course was purely based on my hobby, which is computers, though I am aware of the fact that jobs in this business is often well paid.
"The reason that I chose the university and not an alternative is because of the speed in which the computer-trade develops. It is my belief that the university is the most advanced education, and therefore the chances for me to get a job should increase.
"The fact that we can get the courses for free makes me feel that the university is well enough funded.
"The price for an apartment is very high in most of the larger cities, so some people have problems with the rent, and have to get a job on top of the course.
If the government lowered the subsidy for students who live at home, and at the same time raised it for the rest, maybe more people could afford to live without the extra job."
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