NI university fees to be reviewed

Student fees in Northern Ireland are to be reviewed

A review of university tuition fees in Northern Ireland will begin in September, Employment and Learning Minister Sir Reg Empey has said.

Two years ago there was a drop in first year students after fees came in.

However, this year there has been a rise in enrolment. Mr Empey said more figures are needed before the impact of higher fees can be assessed.

"There is a range of factors which need to taken into account to explain the decrease in 2006/07," he said.

"All of these will certainly be investigated further during the review planned to commence in the next academic year."