ESSEX University has announced it will charge new students the highest level tuition fees of £9,000 a year from 2012.
The decision is subject to the approval of the Office for Fair Access, but would see current tuition fees triple for students looking to study at the university from 2012.
In a statement released on Tuesday the university said money would be invested to maintain the “highest quality teaching and learning opportunities for its students”.
The university is one of the first to announce the tuition hike following in the footsteps of both Cambridge and Oxford University who announced similar price rises earlier this month.
Tuition fees had previously been capped at just over £3,000 until a controversial Government decision last year to allow a top tier of £9,000 from 2012 – a decision which prompted student protests across the country.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan defended the decision saying: “An Essex degree represents a real investment in our students’ future. We aim to provide opportunities for both living and learning that will provide lifelong benefits through the experiences, skills and knowledge gained.
“Essex has a long tradition of providing access to a diverse community of students, including those from less privileged backgrounds and social groups, and our priority will be to continue to do so. We will be offering bursaries and academic scholarships to ensure those with the ability to succeed will be able to study here, regardless of their financial circumstances.”
The university has recently embarked on a £200m investment plan at both its Colchester and Southend campuses.