LOCAL students could study degree courses at Taunton’s Richard Huish College as a result of recommendations to remove the cap on fees universities charge students.

College senior manager Paul Smith said the move would “essentially privatise higher education” and lead to a “two-tier university system”.

He said: “Students from poorer backgrounds will opt to go to cheaper universities, creating an American Ivy League-style system, attracting privileged students, with other universities having a disproportionate amount of students from poorer backgrounds.

“It’s a scandal and the losers will be students from lower socio economic groups, who may decide it isn’t worth it – all at a time when there are high levels of unemployment among the 18 to 25-year-olds.

“We’ll see some universities go to the wall.

“Richard Huish is already offering some foundation degrees courses. Students may think about pursuing higher education at a more local level – there could be more students taking degree courses at RHC.

Somerset College principal Rachel Davies welcomed the proposals in the Lord Browne report.

She said: “They give us a fantastic opportunity to build up our already well established reputation and large higher education provision.

“The proposals are for further expansion to vocational degrees, part-time learning and higher education and training to meet employers’ needs.

“This is what Somerset College does and does well. Therefore Taunton and Somerset would benefit enormously from these proposals.”