ANOTHER Scottish higher education institution is to charge maximum fees of £9000 a year to students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

However, Glasgow School of Art (GSA) said it would cap the fee at £27,000 to ensure its four-year degree was no more expensive than a three year degree in England.

Professor Seona Reid, director of GSA, said fee levels would be alleviated by a bursary scheme.

“We have aimed for fairness and parity in the cost of studying in our disciplines in equivalent institutions across the rest of the UK,” she said.

However, GSA came under fire from academics and student representatives.

Robin Parker, president of NUS Scotland, said: “The race to the top in terms of setting fees for students from the rest of the UK shows no sign of slowing, as Glasgow School of Art demonstrates it’s the price tag, not the quality of the education, by which it should be judged by.”

Gordon Watson, president of UCU Scotland, which represents lecturers, added: “We are disappointed another institution is to set headline fees at the highest level.”

The need to alter the fee level paid by students from the rest of the UK to study in Scotland was prompted by changes to university funding brought forward by the UK Government.

Because institutions were allowed to charge up to £9000 a year in the rest of the UK, the SNP Government decided to allow universities in Scotland to charge similar fees to prevent Scotland becoming a cheap option.

Michael Russell, the Education Secretary, had said he expected Scottish universities to show restraint in setting fees, with £6375 a year quoted as a competitive figure.