The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals has told its members to fall in line with Government advice that surcharges are unnecessary. It says the administrative costs should be covered by the 5 per cent of the fee that ministers have already budgeted for the purpose.

The National Union of Students claimed victory in its campaign against the surcharges, ranging from Pounds 10 to Pounds 60, which it said one in six institutions had planned. The CVCP said the charges were only mooted before Government guidelines belatedly came out in July.

But both bodies served notice that they would be watching closely how the arrangements for tuition fees worked out.