Full fees put off Danish visitors

Danish students in Britain are paying full tuition fees because they are deemed to receive too much money from their own government.

International student officers from British universities, including Bath, Teesside and Southampton Institute, are fighting cases for Danes who have been asked to pay the full fee because their home grant exceeds the income threshold of Pounds 1,820.

"We asked the British authorities for an explanation," said Hanne Buch, head of the Danish department of education. "And we questioned whether their treatment of Danish students harmonised with legislation on equal treatment of citizens within the European Union. However, there were no flaws in their explanation, so there is nothing we can do. The only solution is for Danes not to study in Britain."

Danish students are paid an average Pounds 2,800 a year but often receive less than half this amount because of taxation.

"Some students have been forced to discontinue their studies because of the fee," said Lisbeth DeMarie, head of the international department of the Danish grants authority.

Judith Tyler, international student adviser at Bath University, said:

"Considering that the Department for Education and Employment says that EU students will receive support on a similar basis to UK students, I think its assessment seems incredibly mean."