Fee decision for Channel Islands university students

University students from the Channel Islands will be charged the same as English students, the islands' States have announced.

Changes in the UK mean universities are free to charge tuition fees of up to £9,000 a year from September 2012.

However, it had not been clear what the impact of these changes would be on students from the islands.

The change in fees will not affect those already studying whose fees are due to rise by less than inflation.

Previously fees were set under a voluntary agreement between the Crown Dependencies - Guernsey, Jersey and the Isle of Man - and Universities UK.

The "island fee" was based on a principle of "no more and no less" than a UK student, but often island students paid more as the level of government funding was higher from the UK than the islands.

The majority of these UK grants are due to end under the new system, although some expensive courses such as medicine will continue to be supported.

The islands have agreed to meet the additional costs of such courses at the same level as the UK Government.

All universities were asked if they would charge island students more and the majority said they were not planning to do so.

The education authorities from both islands recommended parents and students confirmed tuition fees were the same rate as for an English student when choosing courses.