More than one third of English universities have been granted permission to charge fees of �9,000 from 2012.
They had to convince the Office for Fair Access (Offa) that a system of fee waivers, or access agreements would be in place to make sure that disadvantaged students would not be priced out of higher education.
The go-ahead for higher fees in the wake of Government funding cuts has prompted an angry response from the National Union of Students (NUS) .
NUS president Liam Burns said: "Fee waivers are being used in a cynical attempt to cover up the mess made when the Government trebled the tuition fee cap, instead of properly supporting less wealthy students.
"Vince Cable had stated that fees over �6,000 would only be levied in exceptional circumstances but this solemn promise has quite clearly now been left in tatters."
Offa says 47 out of the 123 universities (38 per cent) that submitted proposals will charge the maximum of �9,000 across the board.
Its director, Sir Greame Davies, said: "Our assessment of the access agreements submitted to us has been a thoroughly rigorous and robust process.
"These agreements represent a considerable commitment by universities and colleges to improving access for students who are under-represented in higher education and, where appropriate, improving student retention and success."
Offa insists that just seven per cent of institutions will have an estimated average fee of �9,000 after fee waivers for poorer students are taken into account.
But the University and College Union , which represents staff working in higher education, says the rubber stamping of higher fees will entrench the country's position as the world's most expensive place to study a public degree.
Source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/university-fees-38-charge-full-9-000-022416484.html
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