A NORTH university has announced its bursary scheme to help poorer students pay tuition fees.

Durham University will charge undergraduates the full £3,000 a year, and plans to help students from lower-income families by offering grants that will eventually cost it £4.5m a year.

Exact figures have yet to be set, but the university said a student from a household whose total income was £15,580 a year or less could qualify for £3,000 a year.

Someone whose family earns £15,580 to £22,010 could get £1,500. In the £22,010 to £27,378 bracket, the award could be £600.

The university has about 11,000 undergraduates in Durham and its campus in Stockton, 20 per cent of whom are from the region.

The university said the scheme was one of the country's most generous and that about a quarter of students would qualify for help.

Vice-chancellor Sir Kenneth Calman said: "We never want to see any potential student put off applying to Durham by the fear of financial difficulties.

"We are looking for people with high academic ability from any background, regardless of school or where they live."

Durham Students' Union strongly opposes tuition fees, but has welcomed the bursaries.

President Tom Page said: "I am delighted by the scheme. I think it offers help to people who need it most and means people should not be put off higher education because of their household income."