Applications from England are increasing

Students' leaders say people are trying to avoid top-up fees, which are being introduced in England's universities from autumn 2006.

There was a 17% increase in students from England applying to Scottish universities in the year to April.

Welsh universities saw a 12% increase in applications from England over the same period.

Applications to Scotland and Wales from England were 28,948 and 42,021 respectively in the year to April.

Northern Ireland also saw a rising number of applicants from England - up from 865 to 1,128.

The president of the National Union of Students, Kat Fletcher said: "Though top-up fees will not be introduced in England until next year, this perhaps signifies the growing levels of dissatisfaction and concern amongst the student population.

"We are delighted that Scotland and Wales have remained top-up free zones and will continue to fight to make sure they remain this way."

Cheaper courses

Last week MSPs voted to give ministers power to set higher fee levels in order to protect the interests of Scottish students.

The Scottish Executive said the fees would be used to prevent medical courses being swamped by students from England when variable fees are brought in next year.

The executive is concerned that England's top-up fees, which could amount to �15,000 for a five-year medical course, could see an influx of students to Scotland in search of cheaper courses.

At the moment, undergraduates from England, Wales and Northern Ireland who enrol on a course in Scotland have to contribute towards their tuition.

Students across the UK are all liable to pay standard tuition fees of �1,150 per year, but Scotland gets round this by paying them for students.

The Scottish Parliament has devolved power over student finance and decided to scrap up-front tuition fees for Scottish students at Scottish universities in 2000-01.

After they graduate Scottish students have to pay what is called a graduate endowment of about �2,000, which goes into a student hardship fund.

Confusion

In Wales, the assembly has pledged not to introduce variable fees during its current term, which ends in 2007.

Students pay tuition fees but there are learning grants for the less well-off.

The Welsh Assembly Government is due to decide in June on future fees. It commissioned a report on six possible options, one of which is to have variable fees up to �3,000 as will happen in England.

In Northern Ireland, the Department of Education and Learning has now said it sees no alternative but to match the proposed system for England.