High-earning graduates could face a 20% levy as well as tuition fees under proposals for university funding to be considered by ministers this autumn.

The proposed system of surcharges could mean that graduates on low incomes pay nothing, while the top fifth of earners could face having to pay around £2,000 on top of their tuition fees, currently capped at £3,290 a year. Middle-income graduates would pay their fees back plus interest.

The graduate contribution system is being considered in a review led by Lord Browne, a former chief executive of BP. His report is to published in October.