Students from both of Bath's universities have today taken to the streets to campaign against what they say is the inequality of tuition top-up fees.

Young people from the University of Bath and Bath Spa University have joined their counterparts in Exeter, Plymouth and Bristol to call for a fairer fee system that does not price out poorer students.

They will form a giant pound sign to symbolise the rising debt that students will be forced to leave university with as institutions increase fees.

President of Bath Spa University Students' Union Joey Cozens-Smith said: "Raising tuition fees any higher would mean many of our students would experience uncontrollable levels of debt when leaving university.

"This would inevitably hit the less wealthy the hardest."

President of the University of Bath union Daniel O'Toole added: "This campaign is not just about current students, but prospective students, parents, and other members of local communities.

"We want political parties to state their views on the issue of fees so that voters have a clear choice ahead of the 2010 General Election."

Under the current system, universities have their tuition fees capped at £3,225-a-year, but there have been calls to either raise it to £5,000 or get rid of any cap altogether.

Critics have argued that removing a limit on how much institutions could charge would effectively close off the most prestigious universities to people from poorer backgrounds.

According to a recent report by Universities UK, which speaks for the country's universities, graduates would owe an average of more than £26,000 if the cap was raised to £5,000, and more than £32,000 if it cap was raised to £7,000.

National Union of Students president Wes Streeting said it was committed to opposing such a large increase in fees.

He said: "Students in Bath and Bristol are taking a stand today because the current university system is failing many young people in this city and across the country.

"At the moment, the average student will graduate with £20,000 of debt. This year's review of higher education funding will consider pushing fees even higher. This would mean that the most prestigious institutions would be able to charge more than others, pricing out poorer students and worsening the inequality that already exists.

"NUS believes that a university education should be free at the point of use, with graduates giving back to the system depending on how much they earn. Our proposals would give universities double the amount of funding they currently receive, while allowing the children of poorer families to go to university without the fear of debt."

Meanwhile University of Bath vice-chancellor Professor Glynis Breakwell has told a national summit of politicians, business and education leaders that the health of universities was vital for economic and social regeneration.

Speaking at the CBI higher education summit in London, Professor Breakwell said that the crucial question is how to pay for university provision in the future at a time when public sector purse strings were being tightened.

Other speakers at the event included Business Secretary Lord Mandelson and Tory universities spokesman David Willetts.

Professor Breakwell told delegates: "The latest figures show that the UK invests 1.3 per cent of GDP in higher education, compared to 2.9 per cent in the US. For that 1.3 per cent, UK universities generate 2.3 per cent GDP which equates to £55 billion.

"Universities are significant wealth creators - not just through their own business activity, although they do employ one per cent of the UK workforce and are often the biggest employers in their region, but through providing highly-skilled graduates, and providing through their research and its application the life-blood of other businesses.

"The current funding models need to be reappraised. If the number going to university is to be maintained, let alone increased and quality of education maintained, new money will be needed."