Jill Cartwright, the assistant director for communications and marketing services at Bristol University, has stated that increased tuition fees at the institution means that its marketing team will need to work wisely and focus spending where it will have the most effect and most return on investment.

The statement comes following the announcement that most UK universities are expected to charge the maximum of £9,000 in tuition fees for at least some of their courses.

“We created a central marketing team at the end of 2010,” explained Cartwright.

“This was not as a direct response to increased fees but because we wanted to professionalise our marketing activity and capitalise on the tremendous strengths of the University.

“We simply have to work wisely and focus spend where it will have most effect and most return on investment.”

In its report released today, titled Fair Access, fees and finances: Bristol's submission to OFFA, the University stated that it believes that the level of fee itself presents a psychological barrier to those students who come from households on the lowest income levels.

“Places at the University of Bristol are among the most sought after in the country,” explained Cartwright.

“Our focus in putting together our fees structure was to ensure that those who have the potential to benefit from an undergraduate education at Bristol can do so regardless of their financial background.