The National Union of Students has hit out against variable tuition fees.

A decade after the Dearing report into the future of Higher Education in the UK led to variable fees, the NUS is concerned the hike in costs to students has not been matched by significant improvements in the student experience.

Speaking ahead of a conference ‘The Dearing Report: Ten years on’ NUS Vice President for Education, Wes Streeting called for widespread improvements to students experience now they pay more than the envisaged 25 percent of costs towards their education.

He said: "For students and their families, the most significant impact of the Dearing report is that it paved the way for the £3000 variable yearly fees that they now pay. As a group, students now stump up more than the 25 percent contribution to the costs of higher education that Lord Dearing envisaged.

"But where are the corresponding improvements in the education they receive? And where is the industry money that Dearing also recommended should be pumped in to the sector? Students are being turned into consumers of their education, but they have precious few consumer rights.

A review of top-up fees will take place in 2009 which could lead to the raising or lifting of the current £3,000 fee cap.

University still remains a popular attraction. Ucas figures show by the end of March 2007 nearly 450,000 had applied: a rise of 5.2 percent across the UK compared with March 2006.

A range of grants and bursaries are available to help students cover additional fees and living costs. Tuition fees are now covered by a loan, repayable once a graduate's income reaches £15,000 a year.