GUERNSEY students could escape proposed further rises in university tuition fees.

The Confederation of British Industry said the UK Government should raise flat-rate fees to make savings but a Guernsey Careers Service spokesman said that should not affect Guernsey students because they already pay considerably more.

‘They are talking about raising the home and EU student flat rates,’ said the spokesman. ‘Hopefully, this increase wouldn’t necessarily lead to an increase in island rates.’

Guernsey has to pay just under full international rates.

The spokesman said that because island fees were so much higher than domestic rates, they were already closer to economic costs.

‘And any further increase would be counter-productive,’ he added.

Fees for Guernsey students range from £6,500 to £23,500 per year, depending on the course.

But students from the UK and the rest of the EU pay tuition fees of £3,225 per year in England and Northern Ireland and £1,285 in Wales.

The report released by the CBI suggested extra money needed to fund universities should come from savings in the student support system.

Education minister Carol Steere (pictured) said the recommendations would not have an impact on islanders yet.

‘There is no change to Guernsey’s position because the CBI are only putting forward recommendations,’ she said. ‘We are already paying economic costs, but if the UK government did raise the fees even higher that would impact on the Channel Islands. But we do have an agreement in place post-2012.’