Students and academics have condemned plans to raise the cap on tuition fees to a “basic threshold” of £6,000 and an “absolute limit” of £9,000 a year.

Students and lecturers are warning that theology and religious studies departments in British universities could be under threat due to cuts in higher education funding. Bangor University will this year accept new theology students for the last time, while staff at Birmingham have warned that they will consider strike action to resist compulsory redundancies.

The Vice-Chancellors of the UK's leading universities have triggered a negative reaction by calling on the new government to lift the cap on tuition fees.

Ministers are facing a strong challenge to their plans to privatise student loans, with academics and student campaigners criticising the proposals. The policy is part of a wider government plan to sell off around £3 billion worth of assets.