As the election looms, what are the three main political parties offering for students and higher education generally?
At the recent National Union of Students conference, the newly popular Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg asked students to 'shout loud' for what they wanted. He said the plans to lift the cap on tuition fees was 'wrong' and his party's manifesto would phase out tuition fees over the next six years, while Tory leader David Cameron said 'top-up fees have to stay' but promised an 'early replayment bonus' on student loans as well as other benefits.
Gordon Brown made no mention of fees but confirmed that Labour would offer 20,000 extra university places this year and said they have always fought for fairness - he told NUS members he would spend 'every waking hour fighting for your future.'
Students unions still say politicians are "hiding behind" a review, due to report after the election, to avoid questions on university funding and student fees. The new incoming president of the NUS, Aaron Porter, said he was disappointed by the lack of open debate.
The National Union of Students is keen to mobilise student voters over the issue of fees, particularly in constituencies with a large student population. They have asked candidates to pledge not to vote for an increase in tuition fees - so far 800 candidates have signed up.
"Come polling day any candidate who hides behind the review and refuses to come clean on their position on tuition fees will be punished at the ballot box," said Mr Porter. Current NUS President Wes Streeting agreed: "We are determined to hold parliamentary candidates to account, and help students in every constituency to understand which of those candidates is prepared to back student interests – on the record, and on a clear promise."
More details on this story from the BBC website and also from the NUS
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