STUDENTS who start at the University of Bolton this September will be asked to pay £3,000 in tuition fees, the highest amount it can charge.

The university fees will affect all full-time home and European Union students enrolling for undergraduate courses.

But students who join the university from Bolton Community College will see their fees slashed by up to £1,000 in a Bolton Scholarship package announced on Wednesday.

The deal between the town's two educational institutions will see every undergraduate progressing from the college receive £700-a-year for each year of their course.

Poorer students will receive an additional Bolton Bursary, worth up to £300.

University bosses say the deal was struck in a bid to encourage local students to continue their studies in Bolton.

They are looking to sign up more feeder partner colleges and schools into what the university calls a "Progression Accord."

Pro Vice Chancellor Dr Peter Marsh and Bolton Community College Vice Principal Dr Beri Hare put their signatures to the accord.

Dr Marsh said: "We will be strengthening relationships that already exist and examining new ways to work together, to help and support each other and the students who come to learn.

"The university has thought long and hard about its tuition fee level which will enable us to deliver the best quality education for our students while offering the best support we can."

Students from poorer backgrounds could effectively see their tuition fees wiped out.

Higher Education Grants of £2,700 will be available from the Government to students with a family income of around £15,000 or less.

If the student's family income is between £15,000 and £33,000, grants are available on a sliding scale.

Tuition fees are highly controversial. Students in England currently pay a flat annual tuition fee of £1,150.

But from next year, regardless of which university they choose, they will face fees of up to £3,000 but will be able to get a loan to cover this.

The government has been encouraging universities to offer bursaries to students to lessen the tuition fee blow. But some of the newer ones say it will mean more of their funds being depleted since many have intakes from a poorer background.