How universities are ripping off their students

Johnny Green/PA

Whatever you think about the student fees debate, today's news that universities are milking their sweet little charges doing cheaper courses to pay for those doing more expensive ones seems just plain unfair.

But now that they can charge up to £9,000 in student tuition fees, it seems many universities are using that as an across the board figure which has no real bearing on what it actually costs to host the course.

I was surprised to learn that agriculture studies courses are the cheapest to host, according to two middle-ranking universities, costing just £4,607 a year. While dentistry tops the scale at the other end costing £15,881 per student each year. Yet students pursuing either course will both be charged the same fee of £9,000 meaning those on the cheaper options are subsidising others, without really knowing it.