A DETERMINED county student is continuing his legal fight over rising tuition fees which he says are unfair to would-be English graduates.

We previously reported on the case of Abel Middlebrough of Norton near Worcester who is set to read economics at Queen’s University in Belfast Northern Ireland in September. However, he is arguing the Northern Ireland Assembly (NIA) has broken a pledge not to raise tuition fees for students studying at its universities, but who are based elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

Because Mr Middlebrough had to accept his place before the rise in fees was announced, he says this is unfair and he had relied upon legitimate expectation. He is also arguing the move is discriminatory. Mr Middlebrough’s parents would have to find the increased tuition fees of £9,000 a year – rather than £3,500.

However, the bright student has received a break after the university agreed to pay a £2,500 bursary to any student attaining grades of AAB or higher – which is what the 18-year-old achieved.

He said: “The fees are going to be £9,000 per year, as that has now been decided by the NIA. The legal case is continuing, and we still have a barrister looking at the case.”