LONDON - THOUSANDS of university students across England are due to stage protests on Wednesday against the top-up fees system which they argue is unfair on poorer students.

The National Union of Students (NUS), which has organised the demonstrations, says the current system leaves the average student with 20,000 pounds (S$47,000) of debt and bases financial support on where individuals study rather than how much they need.

The aim of the protest is to put pressure on the government ahead of a review next year into higher education funding.

NUS President Wes Streeting said all students had to pay 3,145 pounds in top-up fees but faced a 'postcode lottery' on what financial assistance they received.

Richer universities could offer poorer students 1,791 pounds while others could only offer 680 pounds.

'We want a national bursary scheme so that poorer students get financial support based on how much they need it, not on where they study', Mr Streeting said.

'Students and parents also deserve a full, frank and public debate about the current fees system ahead of a general election before families are saddled with even more debt by those who want to see the cap on fees lifted'.

The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) said there was no evidence top-up fees were deterring students from going to university.

It added that those starting courses did not have to start paying tuition fees until they had left university and were earning more than 15,000 pounds a year.

Last week, the DIUS that it would cut partial grants to students from middle-income families after underestimating the bumber of poorer students claiming full grants.

Media reports suggested about 40,000 students would be affected.