University vice-chancellors have called on the Government to review tuition fees, saying the higher education funding system needs rethinking.

They said rising costs and limits on overseas students – which have become increasingly important to finances – created a serious risk to universities.

Government proposals announced in May would mean only students on research programmes would be able to bring dependants to the UK.

Professor Chris Husbands, vice-chancellor of Sheffield Hallam University, told The Guardian raising tuition fees – which have been capped at around £9,000 for the last decade – was “not the way go for students”.

“This country has an outstanding university sector and the Government – and opposition – need to… be prepared to take the decisions to keep that,” he said.

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