STUDENTS at the University of Hertfordshire will have to pay annual tuition fees of up to £8,500, it has been announced.

The university announced yesterday that it had applied to charge average fees of some £7,500 – higher than the £6,000 ceiling recommended in hugely controversial government reforms.

Under those reforms, which sparked mass student protests after they were proposed last year, standard fees are due to increase from almost £3,300 to £6,000 per year.

Universities, however, have been allowed to apply for fees of up to £9,000 in “exceptional circumstances” as long as they commit to helping poorer students into higher education.

The University of Hertfordshire says its proposals have been agreed by its board of governors. They must now be approved the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) A spokesman explained: “In determining its fee proposals for 2012, the university has been guided by its absolute commitment to delivering an exceptional student experience and its belief in the need to be fair and reasonable during a time of considerable economic uncertainty and significant change to the funding of Higher Education.

“As the UK’s leading business-facing University, the best performing post-1992 institution in the latest Research Assessment Exercise and with a strong position in the UK University league tables, the University believes that its fee proposals will ensure financial sustainability, whilst offering exceptional value for its students.”

The university’s announcement comes as a wave of other institutions announced their own intention to charge enhanced fees.

Such increases, however, were attacked this morning by Business Secretary Vince Cable, who accused institutions of failing to tackle high salaries and wastefulness by simply passing costs onto students.

But Nica de Koenigswarter, president of the University of Hertfordshire Students Union, said the university had “acted very reasonably” by trimming its costs to help students. She said: “As an individual I think education should be free but the university is trying its hardest to make sure it’s not charging students any more than it has to.”