City students speak out over fees

The NUS says it believes the current fee system is failing students

Students in Sheffield have gathered in the city to call on the government to provide fairer university funding.

The "street party" event featuring music and speeches was held at Peace Gardens earlier.

The gathering was organised by the National Union of Students (NUS) to voice concern over tuition fees.

The NUS said it wanted to draw attention to the "inequalities" of the top-up fee system, which it said was pricing out poorer students.

'Worsening inequality'

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said it was committed to a review by an independent commission starting in the next few weeks which is to examine variable tuition fees.

Students from both the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam University were involved in the event.

NUS President Wes Streeting said: "Students in Sheffield are taking a stand because the current university system is failing many young people in this city and across the country.

"At the moment, the average student will graduate with £20,000 of debt. This year's review of higher education funding will consider pushing fees even higher.

"This would mean that the most prestigious institutions would be able to charge more than others, pricing out poorer students and worsening the inequality that already exists."