Students looking for reassurance over possible rises in tuition fees were left disappointed when the vice chancellor, Sir Peter Scott, addressed Kingston University Students Union’s Annual Students Meeting on Tuesday.

Sir Peter claimed that he had no “moral right” to charge tuition fees as he did not have to pay them when he was studying.

Sir Peter said:  “Student fees create a new friction between the university and students.”

However, Sir Peter was concerned that by keeping fees at their current level, while other universities increase theirs, would be bad for the university’s reputation. He said: “A cheap product is seen as bad quality.”

He then encouraged students to protest about student fees, saying: “Students should campaign for what they believe in.”

Last week over 300 students marched in protest about the poor quality of sports facilities available at Kingston University.

When the subject of sports facilities was put to Sir Peter he expressed surprise that this was seen as such a priority by Kingston students.

Sir Peter said: “Previous students’ representatives have perhaps not waved their hands hard enough if they wanted a change of priorities.”

This was refuted after Sir Peter had left by KUSU President TJ Esubiyi who said: “Peter Scott might say that he did not know [how students feel about sports] but he did know. I am extremely frustrated.”

In a move that has angered some students graduation ceremonies have been moved from the Barbican to the Rose Theatre in Kingston this year.

Sir Peter explained the reasoning behind the move: “Very few universities who could have them in their own town would choose not to do so.”

Kingston wants to have more graduation ceremonies that are smaller and held in the summer. Sir Peter cited the example of last year’s healthcare graduates who will not have their ceremony until May, nearly a year after finishing their course.

He added that he had received positive feedback on the change.