Students could soon be under more financial pressure after a prominent education figure suggested the UK increase fees to help universities compete with those abroad.
Chairman-elect of the 1994 Group - made up of 18 research universities - Professor Paul Wellings also said the rise should be accompanied with a higher rate of interest for student loans.
"The government and higher education (HE) sector now faces a clear choice - reduce student numbers or increase funding for HE," he told the organisation's conference in London.
Professor Wellings continued by saying more cash was needed in order to maintain quality and added this could come from fees and student loan repayments.
He called for the interest rate to match that of the government's cost of borrowing, to remove the subsidy currently in place.
The comments may increase pressure on students to find a good graduate job when they leave university.
Meanwhile, recent research from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and Harvey Nash found the employment environment for graduates has changed to one focusing on working together and flexibility for staff.
