Staff at University College London are among those on strike

The rolling programme of action over the next fortnight will affect registration at 13 colleges.

Unison and the Association of University Teachers (AUT) say about 130,000 students will be affected.

The AUT says its members have been pushed into strike action because the London allowance has been frozen at �2,134 since 1992.

The strikes - which follow London-wide action in February and last November - will take place at each institution for two days, depending on their registration timetable.

London weighting for some other public sector workers is as high as �6,000 and this is simply and clearly unjust Paul Rees, AUT

The first strikes are taking place on Monday at University College London, Brunel, Goldsmiths and the Royal Holloway.

Although it will affect new students coming to register, the industrial action has received the support of the NUS and the University of London students union.

Paul Rees, from the AUT, told BBC London: "This is the first time the AUT has called action during the registration period, which is one of the most important times during the university calendar.

"The reason for the strike is that London weighting for higher education staff has been frozen for 11 years - the last time it was raised was when George Bush Snr and President Yeltsin were declaring the end of the Cold War.

"London weighting for some other public sector workers is as high as �6,000, and this is simply and clearly unjust."