The vice-chancellors of Australia's most prestigious universities have taken out advertisements blasting the Abbott government's "dumb" decision to axe funding for world-renowned research facilities if the Senate does not pass fee deregulation.

The advertisements are the first time the Group of Eight (Go8) universities have used paid advertising in protest since the group was formed 16 years ago.

The elite Go8 universities – which include the University of Sydney, the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland – are the strongest supporters of the government's plan to allow universities to set their own fees.