Scottish graduates 'could face £13,000 fees'

Scottish graduates should pay up to £13,000 for a four-year degree, a body representing the country's higher education institutions has said.

In its submissions to a Government green paper, Universities Scotland called for contributions to be set at the current English level of £3,290 a year.

It warned that without funding from those who "realise substantial private benefit as a result of a university education", Scotland would be unable to maintain its current number of student places.

Scotland's higher education sector will see its funding cut by £67 million in 2011-12 as part of a £1.3 billion reduction in the country's overall budget.

However, when he unveiled the green paper in December, Scottish education secretary Michael Russell said that tuition fees would be off the table north of the border.

Students' groups have also voiced concerns over Universities Scotland's proposals.

Liam Burns, president of NUS Scotland, said: "Tuition fees are unfair and have been entirely discredited. We've seen how divisive they can be in the rest of the UK and we must avoid anything like the same approach in Scotland."