14 March 2012 Last updated at 18:12

Students stage walk outs in university protests

Students at King's College London joined protests over the "uncertain future" of higher education

Students in England are staging a national day of action to protest against changes to higher education.

The National Union of Students (NUS) says lectures have been boycotted as students join rallies, marches, petition signings and other events.

The walk out is part of a week of action by students against higher tuition fees, "hidden" course costs and a lack of bursaries.

The government said students had a right to peaceful protest.

Actions were held at a number of campuses, including King's College and Goldsmiths in London and universities in Sussex, Liverpool, Manchester, Kingston, Brighton, Birmingham, East Anglia, Bournemouth, York and Edinburgh.

The NUS said it wanted universities to explain the "true cost" of being a student, and for the government to spell out the future of the education system.

At King's College London students argued that "hidden costs" were a major concern - claiming that some courses, such as in health subjects, required an extra £1,000 in equipment, books and travel.

They argue that "fee waivers", where fees are discounted, do not provide any extra cash to support students while they are studying.

National debate

NUS president Liam Burns said: "We need a national debate on changes to higher education, and this week we will remind ministers that we are watching what they're doing.

"When the government quietly dropped plans for a higher education bill earlier this year, they didn't drop their plans. They simply removed the opportunity for the kind of scrutiny that has been afforded to changes to the NHS.

"Students, parents, lecturers and anyone with a stake in education wants to know what the government and our institutions have in store for higher education, and demand that they come clean."

A spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said: "We are putting students at the heart of the system, with a diverse range of providers offering high-quality teaching.

"Going to university depends on ability not the ability to pay.

"Most new students will not pay up front, there will be more financial support for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and everyone will make lower monthly loan repayments than they do now once they are in well-paid jobs.

"Students, like other citizens, have the right to participate in peaceful protest."