Tuition fee hike 'will make English degrees most expensive in the world'

An analysis of international data reveals that a small rise would push England to the top of a league table of the most costly places to study – overtaking nations including Iceland and the United States.

The University and College Union, which conducted the research, called on the Coalition to scrap a proposed tuition fee hike to avoid the "unenviable" tag.

It comes just weeks before the publication of a major review of student finance which is likely to lead to a sharp rise in the cost of a degree.