Plans to reduce tuition fees at 24 universities under the 2012 fee regime could end up costing poorer students more.

Plans to reduce tuition fees at 24 universities under the 2012 fee regime could end up costing poorer students more.

The Office for Fair Access (OFFA), which approves institutions' suggested charges, has today agreed to allow 24 universities and one college to lower fees.

The problem is that many disadvantaged students will miss out on free cash via the bursary reduction but may not necessarily have paid back all their loan to cover fees so the reduction in charges makes little difference. Therefore, the net result for poorer students could be negative.