University of Bolton students face annual fees of more than £7,000 — more than twice the amount they are currently paying — according to the University and College Union (UCU).

The UCU says the university will have to charge £7,172 in tuition fees in order to maintain the current level of income in the face of government cuts.

But the university has dismissed the figures as speculation, stressing that no decision has been made.

However the UCU did find that the University of Bolton is in a strong position to withstand cuts to higher education. It is classed as facing “medium-risk”.

The potential impact on a university is categorised as being very high, high, highmedium, medium and low.

Out of 130 English universities, 49 face a “serious impact” with four at “very high risk”, 23 are high risk and 22 high-medium risk — with the worst hit facing possible mergers or closures, according to the UCU study.

Politicians were voting on rising tuition fees today to triple university tuition fees to £9,000 a year — and despite claims that it would be exceptional for fees above £6,000 to be charged, the UCU says its analysis found that all English higher education institutions would have to change more than £6,000 to maintain current funding levels.

Deputy vice chancellor Peter Marsh said: “The UCU's figures are speculative at best, based on a formula designed with a one-size-fitsall mentality. In reality all institutions are individual and could face very different problems.

“In the case of Bolton, the report shows the university is in a robust financial position to withstand the impact of any public funding cuts. This is thanks to its high number of science and technology courses and a diverse income.

“The University of Bolton has not yet decided what its fees will be.”