CREWE university students are facing a huge hike in fees next year.

Manchester Metropolitan University is one of many national higher education institutions that is looking to charge the maximum £9,000 for some undergraduate courses.

At present most course fees are around £3,300.

But MMU claims that more than 75 per cent of new students will pay £8,000 from 2012.

The university says a means-tested £10m scholarship scheme will help ease the burden for talented students, irrespective of social background.

Vice-Chancellor Professor John Brooks said: "This university has a long tradition of supporting less privileged people of all ages across the region through their higher education.

“We are absolutely determined that we remain loyal to our core student bodies and soften the blow of rises as best we can.

"We feel that our fees represent the correct balance between offering a high quality University education and student experience, and the actual costs of delivering this."

MMU says the higher fees are in part due to the benefit students will gain from the new, world-class facilities at the Crewe campus.

A university spokesman added: “In 2009 a £7million arts centre opened on the Crewe campus with its own theatre, rehearsal and performance studios, multimedia and recording music suites and gallery space.

“Also at the Crewe campus, a £10million sports building has recently opened and is equipped with state of the art testing and research facilities, including an altitude training chamber, genetics laboratory and sports injuries clinic.

“The university is an approved Olympic and Paralympics training camp and hosts international athletes.”

New undergraduate students will not have to pay upfront for their tuition.

The tuition fees will be paid by a government loan which students only start to repay once they graduate and are earning more than £21,000.