However, it is becoming increasingly clear that the nation is being softened up for top-up fees.
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They worry that introducing top-up fees would scare off potential students from poor families.
ECONOMIST: The battle-lines over university fees have been drawn
The Conservatives say such top-up fees will act as a "severe deterrent" to poorer students.
Top-up fees would "institutionalise" barriers to less well off applicants, the students union claimed.
"The university opposes both the philosophy and practical consequences of top-up fees, " the joint statement added.
He has backed an American model of funding, including the slow introduction of top-up fees.
That is foolish. although top-up fees might deter poorer students if applied universally, they could be means-tested.
The arrival of top-up fees would end the principle of equal access to higher education, says the union.
He said it was "disingenuous" to suggest that, once introduced, top-up fees would stop at any ceiling for long.
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However, Labour has also discouraged competition between further-education colleges and taken powers to stop universities from charging top-up fees.
It is thought the decision not to introduce higher top-up fees for Welsh students in Wales may be a factor.
Top-up fees have been rejected by the government but are still being discussed by the Russell Group of top universities.
Top-up fees, currently being considered by a group of leading universities, would mean universities setting their own charges for courses.
Mr Johnson, once a canny trade-union leader, was minister for higher education two years ago when Parliament approved top-up fees.
Last month, students from across Wales protested at Cardiff Bay, urging the assembly government to rule out top-up fees for good.
In 2004, support from Scottish and Welsh MPs allowed the government to push through the introduction of university top-up fees in England.
David Davies (Conservative, Monmouth) asked whether the first minister had given any thought to what would happen when top-up fees are introduced.
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The government has consistently opposed the use of top-up fees, with the Education Secretary David Blunkett re-iterating his own opposition last week.
In one respect, the row over top-up fees has also been over-blown.
But Conservative former higher education minister Robert Jackson, who supports top-up fees, said his party's policy was "irresponsible" and would make universities suffer.
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Our finding that, on average, the full fee cost was passed into debt means that the same cannot be ruled out for top-up fees.
BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | New student fees 'may boost debt'
Charles Clarke's predecessor Estelle Morris, who resigned last week, is said to have come under sustained pressure from Downing Street to allow top-up fees.
The students' union at Oxford University has expressed its "outrage" at the proposals and has called on the university to speak out against top-up fees.
In its last manifesto, Labour promised not to introduce top-up fees.
ECONOMIST: The battle-lines over university fees have been drawn
At the weekend Home Secretary David Blunkett called on former cabinet colleagues not to oppose university top-up fees in order to damage Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The National Union of Students said the government was "attempting to sell top-up fees to students by spinning a line that being in debt is acceptable".
BBC: NEWS | UK | Education | New student fees 'may boost debt'
Mr Prescott compared the top-up fees issue with the part-privatisation of air traffic control, which he said had faced backbench opposition in Parliament but had proved successful.
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Despite the massive rebellions in Tony Blair's second term on such issues as Iraq, foundation hospitals and top-up fees, there has been no collapse in party discipline.
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The Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals, which is holding its own inquiry into funding, has so far refused to be drawn into supporting or opposing top-up fees.
Some cite the example of Chile, where a universal voucher scheme that allows schools to charge top-up fees seems to have improved the education of the best-off most.
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