Imperial College will charge £9,000 from next year

Students at Imperial College will be charged the top rate of tuition fees from next year.

Like Cambridge, the university has announced annual fees of £9,000. Oxford academics have said they will need to charge at least £8,000 to maintain funding.

Sir Keith O'Nions, rector of Imperial College London, said the fees would be set at £9,000 in order to maintain excellence.

He added: "We still have a way to go in our considerations about what forms of financial aid would attract and support the most able, but needy, students. Our message to the outside world though must be that for those who can manage Imperial's courses, the college will work to ensure they can manage its costs."

He said that details of financial aid for poorer students were still being worked out, and would include a campaign of philanthropic support which would enable the college to "attract the brightest and the best".

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said only a few universities should charge the top rate of tuition fees. Those that charge more than £6,000 will have to meet quotas on the number of poorer people they admit.

President of the National Union of Students, Aaron Porter, said that all universities in London would put themselves in the same price category as Imperial.

"Prices are set on things like perceived prestige and also the desirability of the location, so the demand for London universities will hold up well despite the increase in fees," he said.