This represents a three-fold increase in fees. Recent studies have confirmed the view of many in the sector, that this level of cost will dissuade many able low-income students from attending university at all. At the same time, the government plans to slash funding to colleges and to scrap the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA). Without access to a local further education college and the support for travel and basic costs of the EMA, further study becomes impossible for many.

The review of university funding not only passes the costs of degrees onto students, the proposals also seek to end state support for the majority of courses.
Whereas previously HEFCE (the university funding body) would allocate places to courses and institutions, ensuring a fair spread of university places across regions, now universities and cities are encouraged to compete against each other.

For Birmingham, this is disastrous. We know that the city and region face challenges in skills ­ without access to further study, these issues cannot be addressed. Government acknowledges that courses and entire universities will go out of business. The loss of any of the city's important universities ­ or even the loss of significant numbers of courses from our local universities ­ will damage our ability to rebuild the skills base of the city and to meet the aspirations of local people. Importantly, the decline of our universities and colleges will also lead to a loss of revenue and jobs to the city.
Further and higher education are important employers in Birmingham and student communities bring a large amount of business to the city.

Birmingham has devoted considerable energy to attracting students to the city in recent years. Funding proposals that threaten universities, colleges and courses in this city will destroy this work and damage Birmingham's ability to meet the economic and social challenges ahead.

We call on the leaders of Birmingham City Council and the city's MPs to lobby Government to defend the educational infrastructure of the city and to meet with us, ordinary staff from across the city's universities and colleges, to defend educational provision for Birmingham, both now and in the future.

1. Gargi Bhattacharyya, Aston University, UCU, Prof
2. Caroline Gray, City College, UCU
3. Aldo Mussi, Birmingham City University, SL
4. Danielle Fuller, University of Birmingham, SL
5. Graham Brotherton, Newman University College, SL
6. Matt Raine, University of Birmingham, UNISON
7. Jim Finucane, Aston University, GMB
8. Tim Hooton, Aston University, UNITE
9. Chris Buckingham, Aston University, SL
10. Andrew Coulson, University of Birmingham, SL
11. Graham Stephenson, Newman University College, SL
12. David Bailey, University of Birmingham, L
13. Peter Quaife, Aston University, L
14. Stefan Manz, Aston University, SL
15. Fatemah Rabiee-Khan, Birmingham City University, Prof
16. Nathalie Mrgudovic, Aston University, L
17. Caroline Radcliffe, University of Birmingham, L
18. Stanley Tucker, Newman University College, Prof
19. Mahmood Delkhasteh, Dr
20. Ella Scharf, Aston University, Administrator
21. Kate Thomson, Birmingham City University,
22. John Blewitt, Aston University, Director of Lifelong Learning
23. Stephen Dixon, Newman University College, SL
24. Joyce Canaan, Birmingham City University, Prof
25. Henry Miller, Aston University, Associate Lecturer
26. Sue Pavey, University of Birmingham, Research Fellow
27. Karen Mary Argent, Newman University College, L
28. Sarah Hayes, Aston University,
29. Steve Powers, University of Birmingham, L
30. Pam Lowe, Aston University, SL
31. Mark Addis, Birmingham City University, Prof
32. Emmanuelle Labeau, Aston University, SL
33. Alison Rolfe, Newman University College , SL
34. John Knight, Aston University, Welfare Advisor
35. Liz Tomlin, University of Birmingham, L
36. Reiner Grundmann, Aston University, Reader
37. Jane Hill, Birmingham City University, Programme Director
38. Kara Reilly, University of Birmingham, L
39. Gary Hazeldine, Birmingham City University, L
40. Noelle Plack, Newman University College, Reader
41. Chris Bolsmann, Aston University, L
42. Richard Tuckett, University of Birmingham, Prof
43. Sarah Amsler, Aston University, L
44. Kate McLuskie, University of Birmingham, Prof
45. Hilary Dunphy, Newman University College, Programme Leader
46. Steve Hewitt, University of Birmingham, SL
47. Caroline Lee, Birmingham City University, L
48. Jeremy Morris, University of Birmingham, L
49. Steve Garner, Aston University, SL
50. Steve Waters, University of Birmingham, L
51. Ayo Oyeleye, Birmingham City University, Programme Leader
52. E.A.Rees, University of Birmingham, Reader
53. Jordina Sala-Branchadell, Aston University, Teaching Assistant
54. Graham Worth, University of Birmingham SL
55. Paul Long, Birmingham City University, SL
56. Waldemar Bujalski, University of Birmingham, Senior Research Fellow
57. Tim Grant, Aston University, SL
58. Paul Warmington, University of Birmingham, SL
59. Malcolm Coulthard, Aston University, Prof
60. Alex Miller, University of Birmingham, Prof
61. Esther Eidinow, Newman University College, Reader
62. Pierre Larrivee, Aston University, SL
63. Jane Andrews, Aston University, Teaching Associate
64. Sue Wheeler, Professor
65. Caroline Long, Aston University, Senior Librarian
66. Annaliese Dodds, Aston University, L
67. Cinzia Priola, Aston University, SL
68. Esther Asprey, Aston University, Research Associate
69. Ed Turner, Aston University , L
70. Graeme Hayes, Aston University, SL
71. Anne Robbins, Birmingham City University, SL
72. Gaynor Pollard, Newman University College, SL
73. Bruce Coates, Newman University College, SL
74. Sue Garton, Aston University, L
75. Fiona Copland, Aston University, L
76. Kate Katafiasz, Newman University College, L
77. Dora Meredith, University of Birmingham, president of Guild of Students
78. Natasha MacNab, University of Birmingham, Research Fellow
79. Nat Queen, University of Birmingham, SL
80. Rayah Al-Dadah, University of Birmingham, L