UNIVERSITY Campus Suffolk (UCS) plans to hike its tuition fees to �8,000 a year.

The university’s bosses says the move reflects “excellent value for money”.

UCS has fixed its tuition fees for UK and European Union full-time undergraduates for 2012 entry at �7,500 for Foundation degrees and �8,000 for Bachelor courses in a package subject to the approval of the Office for Fair Access (OFFA).

Students studying at UCS receive joint degrees from University of East Anglia and the University of Essex.

Professor Mike Saks, Provost of UCS, said: “We are a new, can do Higher Education Institution with very good facilities, and we plan to deliver the best higher education for Suffolk.

“Our fees represent excellent value for money and will enable us to cover our costs in an increasingly tightly run and cost-effective institution.

“They should also allow us to deliver innovative initiatives to widen participation, improve our support and facilities for students, and build employability into the degree courses on offer.”