Applications could fall, warn the Lib Dems

A poll for the Liberal Democrats found that 67% of those asked said their decisions on whether to go to university would be influenced by an increase in tuition fees.

And 69% of students from poorer families who planned to go to university said an increase might stop them.

The government plans to allow universities to raise tuition fees up to a ceiling of �3,000 a year from September 2006.

At the moment students in England pay �1,100 a year, although about a third of dependent students pay nothing because the fees are means-tested.

Nearly 2,500 16 year olds were questioned for the poll. Their year will be the first to pay top-up fees.

Two-thirds of them said their choice of university would also be affected by tuition fees, since universities will be allowed to charge different fees.

Cheaper universities

The Liberal Democrats' education spokesman Phil Willis said the poll was damning evidence that Labour's policy would hit students from poorer backgrounds hardest.

"Investing in our young people means investing in Britain's future," said Mr Willis.

"The right to a good education should be based on ability, not ability to pay.

"If today's 16 year olds have been put off going to university by current government proposals, their present commitment to education will have been damaged.

UNIVERSITY FUNDING The government has set a target of getting "towards 50%" of people under the age of 30 into higher education by 2010 Under its plans, annual tuition fees, currently set at �1,100, would rise to a maximum of �3,000 from 2006 But families earning less than �30,000 would still get help with the first �1,100 of fees From 2004, students with family incomes of less than �20,000 will get an annual grant, calculated on a sliding scale Those whose families earn under �10,000 will receive �1,000 a year

"British students should not have to choose their university by how much they charge.

"Poorer students will naturally choose cheaper universities, while only rich pupils will be able to afford the more expensive."

Of those questioned, 40% said they thought they would qualify for assistance in paying the tuition fees.

As part of its reforms for higher education, the government is re-introducing the maintenance grant for some students.

From next year, those with family incomes of less than �10,000 will get a grant of �1,000 a year as well as their full existing student loan entitlement.

A reducing amount will be paid to those on family incomes of up to �20,000.

When top-up fees are introduced in 2006, the first �1,100 will continue to be means-tested, with poorer students' fees being paid for them on a sliding scale up to a family income of �30,000.

The government says about 40% will pay the full amount.

The Liberal Democrats conducted their own survey this spring.

They say they contacted 311 schools in England, chosen on GCSE results, to reflect a wide range. Teachers were asked to photo-copy the survey and distribute them to children.

National Union of Students president Mandy Telford said: "To have a truly world class higher education system we need all students to be able to fulfil their potential.

"We cannot do that if some are forced to choose cheaper courses and others opt not to go at all because of the debt and hardship they will face.