Thousands of students rallied in protest against the top up fees back in October on a march organised by the National Union of Students, who say such proposals will leave students with up to �30,000 debt.

But heads of England's elite universities are urging the government not to back down, saying that the money is needed to avoid financial crisis.

Is the government right to persist with this policy, or is it a retrograde step that will deter students from going to universities?

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