This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

The universities minister has warned that institutions opting to charge the maximum fees allowed will end up looking "silly" when students shun their courses.

David Willetts suggested students would desert universities imposing the maximum charge. They include Oxford, Cambridge and Imperial College London as well as others concerned that they will appear to be offering a cheaper, and therefore less valuable, education if they do not charge the same.

Willetts told Sky news: "I certainly hope to see a range of fees being set by universities.

"Universities don't need to go anywhere up near £9,000. For many courses, it is closer to £6,000 or £7,000.

"It would be a great pity if we had this idea that you have to charge a very high price in order to establish prestige. I think what students should be looking for is a high-quality teaching experience.

"If students find there are alternative providers that can offer a high-quality higher education experience for significantly less than £9,000, universities that have rushed to £9,000 will end up looking rather silly."

The Office for Fair Access will require those universities that charge the highest fee to show how they are making places available for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Willetts also suggested new providers hoping to enter the field – offering, among other things, two-year courses – might eventually entice students away from three-year degree courses, especially if they are the most expensive.

Student charters are being launched which will require universities to set out more clearly what they are offering an applicant, and Willetts hopes they will help students make what has become a big financial decision.

"Certainly there will be, in the student charters we are launching this week, much greater expectation [on universities]," he said.

"Universities are going to have to tell those customers what they are offering.

"I think there have been universities that haven't provided the kind of proper teaching experience that students expect, and if they try to charge anything approaching £9,000 for that, I think they will find there are alternatives available for many young people."